There are now 39 local non-profits in the running for our "Winter Wish List" promotion, and there's still time to make sure your favorite non-profit has a chance to win the grand prize of $5,000.

Main Street Connect, publishers of 51 online news sites in Massachusetts (including this one), Connecticut and New York, has partnered with Gaudette Insurance for the promotion, which will award one grand prize of $5,000 and five runner-up prizes of $500 to the organizations which receive the most votes in the coming weeks.

As a community leaders, Main Street Connect and Gaudette Insurance know that times are tough, and not-for-profit organizations need funding now more than ever. With the holiday season upon us, Main Street Connect and Gaudette Insurance want to give back to the organizations that serve our local community.

Readers can cast their votes for their favorite non-profits daily -- and make sure you share the link with other fans of your favorite group! Voters must be registered and logged onto the site to vote.

Here’s how the promotion works:

All 501(c)(3) organizations based in – and serving – our territory covered by a Main Street Connect news site will be able to register and rally their supporters to vote for their organization until January 15, 2012. The organization that has received the most votes by January 15 will receive $5,000. Five runner-up organizations will each earn $500.   You can come back and vote once every day for your favorite organization in Winter Wish List. You can even vote for a different organization every day.

If you are an official representative of a 501(c)(3) organization and would like to participate in Winter's Wish List, you still have time to register here.

We hope you will take part in this great opportunity to benefit the wonderful organizations that serve our community.  If you have any questions, please email WWL@MainStreetConnect.us