October 3, 2012, Brewster, MA - After 100+ days, 4500+ votes and 180+ inspiring and remarkable entries to the WeNeedaVacation.com summer photo contest, Who Needs a Vacation?, ten finalists have been selected, and it's time for our panel of Cape Cod judges to weigh in.
From the generosity of phenomenal parents, to the selfless sacrifices of deployed soldiers and their families, to the amazing fighting spirit of individuals who suffer from or have survived a debilitating illness, virtually all of the nominations submitted to the contest were deserving of the Grand Prize of $2000 towards a vacation rental on WeNeedaVacation.com.
"The challenge for us was choosing just five finalists," says Jeff Talmadge, who has co-owned the Cape and Islands vacation rental website WeNeedaVacation.com with his wife, Joan, since 1997. "Each and every entry embodies hope, perseverance, and a shared belief in the incredible healing power of the Cape and Islands. We wish we could give all of the nominees a Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket vacation."
The finalists (five entries with the top votes from our voting round and five entries chosen by the staff at WeNeedaVacation.com ) will have their photos printed and matted for display at a live judging event hosted by the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce on October 10th at the Lobster Claw in Orleans. The judges will narrow the field of ten down to three halfway through the evening, with the Grand Prize winner announced at 7:00pm. All ten finalist photos will then be raffled off to members of the audience.
Also during the event on October 10th, WeNeedaVacation.com will present nearly $1000 in donations to the four charities featured in our contest. The organization selected in the winning photo entry will receive an additional $100.
Donation Totals
The Association to Preserve Cape Cod - $360.00
Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod - $210.00
Cape Cod Cares for Our Troops - $195.00
Nauset Neighbors - $130.00
Panel of Judges
Dan Piggott, Mayflower Homemakers
Rich Bryant, Cape Associates, Inc.
Sarah Curley, The Furies Linen and Cleaning Service
Kristin Carey, Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce
Christopher Seufert, Cape Cod Photographer and author of Cape Cod and Islands Reflections and The Cape Cod National Seashore
The contest is made possible by the generous support of our Co-Sponsors:
Mayflower Homemakers
Cape Associates, Inc.
The Furies Linen and Cleaning Service