The Wawa Foundation has awarded its first-ever “Hero Award” to SPIN Special People in Northeast.
More than 11,500 votes were cast by people around the region, and The Wawa Foundation, Wawa’s non-profit through which its charitable giving is channeled, has now announced that SPIN Special People in Northeast is the winner of the Foundation’s first-ever “Hero Award.”
The newly invented “Hero Award” is an honor given to non-profit organizations serving the greater Philadelphia area to recognize their outstanding commitment to assist others and helping to advance communities through preserving our freedom, protecting our safety, inspiring learning and encouraging and empowering others to become better citizens and community members.
The Wawa Foundation Hero Award was launched during Philadelphia’s Wawa Welcome America! festivities and was presented in front of thousands of people as part of the Independence Day morning ceremony on July 4 in front of Independence Hall. During the event, Wawa’s president and CEO, Chris Gheysens, presented the awards on the stage, speaking about the significance of each nonprofit and their heroic efforts to better the lives of so many people throughout Philadelphia. SPIN was selected as the Hero Award Gold Medal winner after receiving the highest number of public votes over a 10-day period on The Wawa Foundation website among four non-profit finalists, including Veterans Multi-Service Center Philadelphia, Beat the Streets and Philadelphia Reads. The four finalists were chosen among more than 300 submissions from Philadelphia-area non-profits for having the most compelling stories of assisting others and advancing their communities. As the winner of the Hero Award Gold Medal, SPIN will receive a $50,000 grant from The Wawa Foundation and the three runners up will each receive Silver Hero Medals and $10,000 grants.