For the past month our readers have cast thousands of votes for the ministry they believe to be the most deserving of the 2012 Hope Award for Effective Compassion and its $25,000 top prize. If you haven’t cast your vote, be sure to do so this weekend—voting ends at midnight Eastern Sunday. (Only one vote per person, please.)

Before voting, we encourage you to make an informed choice by clicking the links below to read the five ministry profiles and watch the corresponding videos:

• West Region: Fathers in the Field in Lander, Wyo.
• East Region: The Root Cellar in Portland, Maine
• Midwest Region: Hope Academy in Minneapolis, Minn.
• South Region: WorkFaith Connection in Houston, Texas
• International: Samaritan Strategy Africa in Pokuase, Ghana

Cast your vote!

The winning ministry will be announced at a dinner on Oct. 18 at Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pa. If you live in the Western Pennsylvania area and would like to be a part of the evening’s festivities, be sure to visit our online reservations page for more details.