After a month of voting, the Michigan Urban Farming Initiative received the most reader support -- and more than $800 -- in the Deadline Detroit Bernstein Service Award online campaign.
Five nonprofits in the metro area competed for votes from readers. The organizations got 25 cents for each vote. The winner got an extra $500. In the first round of the contest, readers nominated their favorite nonprofit and the Bernstein law firm and Deadline Detroit whittled the list down to five.
The Detroit-based winner, which organizes neighborhood projects to grow crops on formerly vacant land, says it is "using agriculture as a platform to promote education, sustainability and community — while simultaneously reducing socioeconomic disparity."
On its Facebook page, the Sam Bernstein Law Firm acknowledged the end of the campaign and stated: "Thank you and congratulations to all of the Detroit area charities that participated in the Deadline Detroit Bernstein Service Award!"
Here's the final tallies:
- 1st: The Michigan Urban Farming Initiative (1,273 votes) - $318 (+$500 grand prize)
- 2nd: Downriver Council for the Arts (1,035) - $258.75
- 3rd: The Friendship Circle (429) - $107.25
- 4th: Heart 2 Hart Detroit (357) - $89.25
- 5th: Camp Casey (345) - $86.25
