In May, Upworthy partnered with P&G, the maker of some of our favorite household products like Gillette, Pampers, and Vicks to celebrate individuals who are giving back and strengthening their communities through the 2023 Acts of Good Awards.

Folks were encouraged to nominate individuals who were going above and beyond to help their community, be it superstar volunteers or inspiring neighborhood leaders, for a chance to receive a $1,000 donation to a non-profit organization of their choice, and for Upworthy to highlight their good work across our channels.

Well, the big day has finally arrived and our three outstanding winners have been selected.
Preston Ross III
In 2020, Preston Ross decided that he was going to start doing something about the trash he was noticing all over Raleigh. He bought a trash picker and began cleaning the streets each night while walking his dog, Buddy. Eventually he invited others to join him, and thus The Great Raleigh Cleanup was born. With the help of 1052 unique volunteers, Preston has removed over 100,000 pounds of trash from his beloved city. People might come to a Great Raleigh Cleanup event to pick up trash, but they leave with a new friend due to Preston’s unending kindness and generous heart.
Rebekah TenBrink
As the story goes, Rebekah TenBrink and her husband moved to Leelanau County, Michigan, without knowing a single soul. After bonding with some teen hockey players, the couple learned that there wasn’t much for kids to do in the small town. Their home quickly became a gathering place for young people to connect through wholesome movie nights, pizza parties and bonfires. Serving this need would eventually lead Bekah to creating LIFT, a inclusive haven for middle and high schoolers that empowers them to discover and embrace their unique individual strengths in a positive and nurturing environment.
Mike Wagenberg
Mike "Wags" Wagenberg is the owner and director of Driftwood Day Camp, a spot dedicated to providing a safe, comfortable and exciting summer home for all campers. Wags strives to create a sense of community long after camp is over—from providing care to former campers who are sick, to rallying donations of toys, school supplies, nonperishable goods, and gently used sneakers to those in need. As his nominator so sweetly put it, Wags’s goal is so much bigger than running a camp. It’s making an impact.
P&G has been a force for growth

For generations, P&G has been a force for growth—making everyday products that people love and trust—while also being a force for good by giving back to the communities where we live, work, and serve consumers.

Growth and good are also at the heart of many of P&G’s Community Impact programs.
Here are just a few of many ways P&G’s brands give back:
Through its many brands, P&G is committed to helping communities grow by doing these Acts of Good and more.
Inspired to act? Get involved at PGGoodEveryday.com.
Frequently Asked Questions

Submissions are accepted until Sunday, June 4th at 11:59pm Pacific Time.

Absolutely! We’d love to hear more about the great work that you’re doing.

Throughout the Contest Period, P&G and Upworthy will evaluate each submission using the following criteria:
  • Commitment to strengthening their community
  • Tangible and unique impact of their actions
  • Goes above and beyond their day-to-day work
  • Reflects Upworthy and P&G’s commitment to inspire postivity, inclusion and impact by doing Acts of Good to help communities grow

    • Three winners will be selected using the criteria noted above.

    Each winner will receive a $1,000 donation to a non-profit organization of their choice. Their great work will also be celebrated on Upworthy’s channels and social media.

    If you have any additional questions, please contact actsofgood@upworthy.com.