Reader's Digest Launches Third Annual Search for the "Nicest Places in America"

Nextdoor, the World's Largest Social Network for Neighborhoods, Partners to Power the Nationwide Search

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May 01, 2019, 16:36 ET

NEW YORK, May 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Reader's Digest is launching its third annual search for the "Nicest Places in America," a national crowd-sourced effort to shine a light on places where people are kind and treat each other with respect. In an era of unprecedented cultural and political divide, "Nicest Places" is Reader's Digest's response.

Nominations are being accepted at www.rd.com/nicest through May 31. Nicest Places can range from small towns to big-city neighborhoods, businesses, community centers, military bases, libraries, places of worship and anywhere else where the spirit of "nice" prevails. Finalists will appear in an upcoming issue of the magazine with the winner to be featured on the cover.

"While there is plenty of media shining a light on everything that is wrong with America, we're showcasing everything right by sharing the stories of places where neighbors are friends, strangers are welcomed, and everyone is treated with civility and respect," said Reader's Digest Editor-in-Chief Bruce Kelley. "Over the past two years doing this, we've learned that Nicest Places are all around us."

Nicest Places 2019 comes with a new twist. In 2017 and 2018, Reader's Digest announced 10 finalists and then let America vote on a winning place to be featured on the cover. In 2019, there will be 50 finalists, one from every state, to be named the 50 Nicest Places in America. Then, America votes on the top 10 to be featured in the magazine, and one to be on the cover of the November issue.

This year, Reader's Digest is teaming up with Nextdoor, the social network that helps neighbors around the world build real-world connections, stay informed and lend a helping hand to neighbors in need.

"At Nextdoor, we have a front row seat to the incredible acts of kindness and real-world connections being made in neighborhoods across the globe," said Nextdoor CEO Sarah Friar. "It is a delight to team up with Reader's Digest to not only elevate these incredible stories but to inspire more kindness in the world."

Launched in 2017, the search for Nicest Places has resulted in nearly a thousand nominations filled with stories of a kinder America. In 2017, the heartwarming story of the winning place, Gallatin, Tennessee, was of a growing city struggling to heal painful racial divides when faced with tragedy. In 2018, the winning Nicest Place told the story of Yassin Terou, a Syrian refugee whose falafel restaurant has become an engine of kindness and charity in Knoxville.

The search will run in three phases: collection of nominations; announcement of finalists and public voting; and unveiling of the winning place on the cover of the November issue of Reader's Digest.

Reader's Digest is partnering with local and national organizations to drive the Nicest Places search in addition to Nextdoor, including Feeding America, Catholic Charities, BYUtv's Random Acts, National Association of Counties, Urban Libraries Council, Kind Campaign, American Booksellers Association, Weave, and the Good News Network.

About Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest, a Trusted Media Brands, Inc. brand, 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. Reader's Digest is available online at RD.com; in print; via digital download on iPad, mobile apps and tablets; and can be accessed via its social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

About Trusted Media Brands, Inc.
Trusted Media Brands, Inc. comprises a network of engaged, active readers who genuinely connect with its blend of uplifting and enduring expertly-curated family, food, health, home improvement, finance and humor content digitally, via magazines and books, social media, and events and experiences. Founded in 1922 by DeWitt Wallace as Reader's Digest Association, one of the first user-generated content publishers, Trusted Media Brands, is headquartered in New York City. For more information, visit TMBI.com.

About Nextdoor.com, Inc.
Nextdoor (nextdoor.com) is the world's largest social network for the neighborhood. Nextdoor enables truly local conversations that empower neighbors to build stronger and safer communities. Today, neighbors rely on Nextdoor in more than 230,000 neighborhoods around the world in the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and Australia, with many more to come. For additional information visit nextdoor.com/newsroom.