Reader's Digest Expands Its Successful We Hear You America Campaign With the Launch of We Hear You America: America's Most Interesting Town

NEW YORK, March 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Reader's Digest today said it will continue its efforts to highlight what makes American communities great with a new, second phase of the We Hear You America campaign, We Hear You America: America's Most Interesting Town. 

This new phase builds upon the success and excitement generated so far by the We Hear You America 2012 campaign, the grassroots initiative that serves as a catalyst to empower Americans to help their local communities improve their quality of life with funds and promotional support for needed community projects. Since its inception in 2010, We Hear You America has touched half of the cities, towns, and villages in the United States. Reader's Digest has provided more than $20 million in financial and promotional support, as well as assistance to community projects and civic initiatives in 128 communities.

Reader's Digest now wants to hear from people, in 150 words or less, what makes their town interesting. One story about an American town will be selected by the editors of Reader's Digest, and that town will appear on the cover of a future Reader's Digest edition as We Hear You America: America's Most Interesting Town. The author of the winning essay will receive a cash prize of $1,000. 

"The amount of pride and community spirit we observed from all over the country throughout the 2012 We Hear You America campaign was overwhelming," said Dan Lagani, President, Reader's Digest North America.  "It is a natural extension for Reader's Digest to now celebrate what truly makes these communities across our country so wonderful and unique by asking people to tell us what makes their town the most interesting in America. The promotional value to these towns from being highlighted by Reader's Digest will certainly help attract even more support for a range of worthwhile community and economic initiatives."

In addition to the Reader's Digest editorial staff choosing America's Most Interesting Town, the editorial staff will select 10 other stories to be highlighted based on specific categories: America's Most Interesting Town Parade, Event, Nickname, Scenic View, Family, Legend, Trivia, Funny Story, Character and Landmark.  These winners will receive $1,000 and their town will be mentioned inside of a future print and digital edition of Reader's Digest.

People are invited to submit their stories and photos between March 2 – May 31, 2012 at ReadersDigest.com/America. Keep talking… we hear you, America!  

"Reader's Digest has a great tradition of sharing the fascinating stories about the unique people and places across our great United States," says Liz Vaccariello, Reader's Digest chief content officer and editor-in-chief. "Now we want to hear directly from our readers what they think makes their hometowns the most interesting in America and share those stories with the rest of the country."

In the spirit of We Hear You America and the 2012 election, Reader's Digest also invites the public to cast votes online each week for the town they think is most interesting in America.  The town that receives the most votes that week will be declared We Hear You America: America's Most Interesting Town by Popular Vote.  These towns also will be mentioned in upcoming print and digital issues of the magazine.

How to participate
It's easy to submit a story or to vote for any town.  Log on to ReadersDigest.com/America and enter the zip code or name of a city, town or village to get started.  People may enter as many stories or vote as many times as they like.  Stories must be 150 words or fewer and describe what makes their town interesting.  Reader's Digest editors will select the essay they believe best reflects America's Most Interesting Town.  Editorial staff will select 10 other essay winners based on the topics America's Most Interesting Town Parade, Event, Nickname, Scenic View, Family, Legend, Trivia, Funny Story, Character and Landmark.  Participants must be age 13 and older to vote for a town.

We Hear You America Foundation
As Reader's Digest undertakes its search for America's Most Interesting Town, it will continue We Hear You America's efforts to support much needed community projects through the Reader's Digest We Hear You America Foundation. The goal of the foundation, which is in the process of receiving its 501(c)3 status, is to fund, through the generosity of Americans, community projects on an ongoing basis that will help local cities, towns, and villages enrich their quality of life. There will be four grants issued over the course of 2012. Reader's Digest intends to contribute financially to the foundation and will cover administrative and fundraising costs. 

To help jump-start contributions, Reader's Digest is offering anyone who contributes $10 via ReadersDigest.com/America a one-year subscription to Reader's Digest magazine as a bonus. More information about the Reader's Digest We Hear You America Foundation can be found at ReadersDigest.com.

About Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest simplifies and enriches consumers' lives by discovering and expertly selecting the most interesting ideas, stories, experiences and products in health, home, family, food, finance and humor.  Recognized by 99% of American adults, Reader's Digest is available in print; online at ReadersDigest.com; via digital download on iPad, mobile apps, Kindle, Kindle Fire, Nook, Sony Reader and Zinio; books and home entertainment products; Facebook, Twitter and other social media outlets.

Media Contacts:

Gary Davis
Reader's Digest North America
646-293-6206
[email protected]

Annie Keller
G.S. Schwartz & Co. Inc.
(212) 725-4500 ext. 326
[email protected]

SOURCE Reader's Digest