The Wawa Foundation has revealed the four finalists for its 2025 “The Wawa Foundation Hero Award,” after receiving more than 300 submissions. The award is an honor given to nonprofit organizations serving the greater Philadelphia area that assists others and builds stronger communities.
The four finalists are:
- Families Behind the Badge Children’s Foundation
- Heights Philadelphia
- Joyful Readers
- Veterans Multi-Service Center
The winner will be chosen by public vote on The Wawa Foundation’s website from June 13-27. The organization receiving the most votes will be presented to The Wawa Foundation Hero Award Panel for final approval.
Launched during Philadelphia’s Wawa Welcome America festivities, The Wawa Foundation Hero Award will be presented as part of the Independence Day morning ceremony on July 4 in front of Independence Hall. The recipient of The Wawa Foundation Hero Award will receive a $50,000 grant, and the three runners up will each receive $10,000 grants.
“We are thrilled with the four finalists for The Wawa Foundation Hero Award and delighted to shine a light on the important work they’re doing in the community,” said Liz Simeone, president, The Wawa Foundation. “We look forward to celebrating their stories during the 4th of July Celebration of Freedom ceremony when we reveal the winner with a $50,000 grant to help these organizations continue helping others in the community.”
Non-profit organizations applied by submitting a video and/or a short story to The Wawa Foundation website that provided background on their organization’s work with, and impact on, the community. The Wawa Foundation Grant Committee selected four compelling stories of organizations serving the Philadelphia community with the best fit to the award focus area and criteria.
The Wawa Foundation is a non-profit corporation founded to support Wawa, Inc.’s charitable giving and philanthropic activities. The Foundation focuses its support on non-profit organizations committed to health, hunger and everyday heroes through local, regional and national grants. Since the inception of The Wawa Foundation in 2014, The Wawa Foundation and Wawa have contributed more than $160 million to non-profit community organizations.
