Friends of the Wissahickon Could See Grant Money

The Friends of the Wissahickon are trying to win grant awards through the Chase Community Giving program.

The program was established in 2009 as a way to help support local charities that use less than $10 million in annual operating expenses. This year, Chase customers and employees nominated each 501(c) (3) public charity participating in the voting round back in June and July.

The Freinds of the Wissahickon work to "preserve the natural beauty and wildness of the Wissahickon Valley and stimulate public interest therein," according to the group's voting page.

Voting opened on Sept. 6 and ends on Sept. 19 at 11:59 p.m. The 196 charities with the most votes will share a total of $5 million in grant money.

The charity with the most votes will receive $250,000, but the rest of the award amounts are as follows:

• Charities 2-11: $100,000 each
• Charities 12-46: $50,000 each
• Charities 47-96: $20,000 each
• Charities 97-196 : $10,000 each

Anyone with a Facebook account automatically gets two votes to use, but both votes cannot go to the same charity. However, extra votes, which can be earned one of two ways, can be used on a charity previously voted for.

Voters can receive an extra vote if they share the link to the Chase Community Giving page on their Facebook timeline. Voters get a bonus vote if someone on their friend’s list votes and also shares the link to the Chase Community Giving page.

Chase customers can vote for charities on Facebook and at www.chase.com/chasegiving.