Celebration of Freedom Ceremony

With Independence Hall as the backdrop, celebrate July 4th and observe the evolving history of America’s freedom, with remarks by Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and a variety of notable guest speakers. Join us for the presentation of the inaugural Mayor’s One Philly Award, the Wawa Foundation Hero Award and The Celebrate Freedom Award presented by Freedom Mortgage. This event is produced in partnership with the Office of the City of Representative. Tune in to NBC10 and stream on NBCU local platforms at 6 PM or watch on your device at nbcphiladelphia.com.

The Wawa Foundation Hero Award: honors a non-profit organization and its volunteers serving Philadelphia by providing
services that build stronger communities through preserving our independence, protecting our safety and mentoring and
inspiring our youth.

The Celebrate Freedom Award: The Celebrate Freedom Contest is open to all service members, veterans, first responders, and healthcare workers. Entrants submit an essay of 1,500 characters or less based on their personal experience that answers the question: “What does freedom mean to me?” In 2023, Freedom Mortgage will make a $5 donation to both Feeding America^® and the USO (United Service Organizations) for each of the first 600 submissions, up to $3,000 total per charity. This donation to Feeding America^® will help provide at least 30,000 meals to people facing hunger. The Celebrate Freedom Contest grand prize award winner will receive a trip for two to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to attend the Wawa Welcome America Festival on July 4 and receive a check for $10,000 from Freedom Mortgage.