True Stories
We Hear You America: How the 2011 Campaign Made Winning Towns Better
In 2011, residents of more than 50% of the cities, towns and villages in the U.S. cast their votes in the inaugural Reader’s Digest We Hear You America campaign. The top 20 vote-getting towns received grants that allowed them to kick off (or complete) projects to make their communities even better places to live.
Read on for an introduction to some of those winning towns, and stay tuned for more 2011 success stories.
Edinburg, VA
Population: 813 (2000 Census)
Prize: Round 2: Category-based (Population 99,999 or less) Municipal Runner-Up Prize of $10,000
For: Restoring the historic mill
Albion, MI
Population: 9,144 (2000 census)
Prize: $10,000
For: Reviving a theater and hosting youth activities
St. Johns, MI
Population: 813 (2000 Census)
Prize: Round 1: Municipal Runner-Up Prize of $10,000
For: Building a water spray park
Jacksonville, IL
Population: 18,940 (2000 Census)
Prize: Round 1: Category-based (Population 99,999 or less) Municipal Runner-Up Prize of $10,000
For: A July Fourth festival and fireworks display
Manchester, NH
Population: 109,565 (2010 Census)
Prize: $10,000
For: Refurbishing a community art gallery
Boley, OK
Population: 1,126 (2000 Census)
Prize: Round 2: Municipal Runner-Up Prize of $10,000
For: “Keep Boley Clean”
Armada, MI
Population: 1,573 (2010 Census)
Prize: Round 2: Municipal Runner-Up Prize of $10,000
For: A skateboard and bike park
Galesburg, IL
Population: 34,195 (2010 Census)
Prize: Round 2: Second-Place Municipal Prize of $25,000
For: Youth programs and facility upgrades
Find out more about Galesburg’s project
San Jose, CA
Population: 945,942 (2010 Census)
Prize: Round 2: Category-based (Population of 500,000 or more) Municipal Runner-Up Prize of $10,000
For: Anti-gang summer youth initiatives
Rancho Cordova, CA
Population: 64,776 (2010 Census)
Prize: Round 2: Grand Prize of $40,000
For: A town Christmas tree and ice rink
Find out more about Rancho Cordova’s project
Crescent City, CA
Population: 7,643 (2010 Census)
Prize: Round 2: Municipal Runner-Up Prize of $10,000
For: Rebuilding the harbor
Find out more about Crescent City’s project
Greensboro, NC
Population: 269,666 (2010 Census)
Prize: Round 1: Category-based (Population 250,000-499,999) Municipal Runner-Up Prize of $10,000
For: local Red Cross and United Way chapters
Find out more about Greensboro’s project
Aurora, IL
Population: 197,899 (2010 Census)
Prize: Category-based (Population 100,000-249,999) Municipal Runner-Up Prize of $10,000
For: Festival of Lights
Find out more about Aurora’s project