Welcome America, Inc. Names Michael DelBene President & Chief Executive Officer

Experienced Business Leader and Non-Profit Executive Chosen to Helm Key Organization Staging Citywide Events for Philadelphia

The Board of Directors of Welcome America, Inc. today announces Michael DelBene as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective February 6, 2019. DelBene will lead the non-profit organization in its 27th year of promoting American history and education in a public-private partnership with the City of Philadelphia, enhancing both the resident and visitor experience through year-round, economy-boosting events.

NBC10 AND TELEMUNDO62 TO AIR EXTENSIVE COVERAGE AND SPECIAL PROGRAMMING DURING WAWA WELCOME AMERICA

As the official broadcast partner of Wawa Welcome America, NBC10 and Telemundo62 will produce special coverage of the more than 50 free events throughout the week. NBC10 and Telemundo62 will air the Celebration of Freedom Ceremony and The United States of America’s Independence Day Parade live from Independence Hall on Wednesday, July 4. NBC10 will broadcast the Wawa Welcome America July 4th Concert and Fireworks on Wednesday, July 4th live from the Benjamin Franklin Parkway during prime time in its entirety from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

2018 Wawa Welcome America Additional Details Released

MORE EVENTS, MORE DETAILS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2018 WAWA WELCOME AMERICA FESTIVAL
THURSDAY, JUNE 28 – WEDNESDAY, JULY 4

Welcome America, Inc. and the City of Philadelphia announce more events and new details for the 2018 Wawa Welcome America seven-day Independence Day festival Thursday, June 28 through Wednesday, July 4. The theme of this year’s Wawa Welcome America is “Welcoming the World with Love.”

Wawa Welcome America 2018 Festival Schedule

50 FREE EVENTS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2018 WAWA WELCOME AMERICA FESTIVAL
THURSDAY, JUNE 28 – WEDNESDAY, JULY 4

Three Nights of Concerts at Independence Hall; Two Fireworks Shows – The Biggest in a Decade;
26th Annual Wawa Hoagie Day; 18 Free Museums and Attractions; Debut of NEW Festival Events, and
Prime Time July 4th Concert Starring Pitbull Televised Live on NBC10 starting at 7 p.m.

Wawa Hero Award Finalists

The Wawa Foundation Announces the Four Finalists for The Wawa Foundation “Hero Award”: Calls for Public Vote to Determine Hero Award Recipient

Four Greater Philadelphia Area Non-Profits Will Be Celebrated During Wawa Welcome America! Festivities, Which Include: Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia, EducationWorks, Inn Dwelling, Philadelphia Fire Department Explorers

Wawa Announces the 2018 Wawa Foundation Hero Award Details and Timeline

Submissions accepted April 12 – May 7 for The Wawa Foundation Hero Award, honoring a non-profit organization committed to serving the Philadelphia area by assisting others.

MR. WORLDWIDE, GRAMMY® WINNING GLOBAL SUPERSTAR PITBULL TO HEADLINE PHILADELPHIA’S FREE JULY 4TH CONCERT

Also starring in the Wawa Welcome America July 4th Concert will be Grammy Award Artist Heather Headley, and The Philly POPS® BIG Band. Philadelphia’s July 4th concert--produced by Live Nation Philadelphia-- is just one of the 50 free events planned for the 2018 Wawa Welcome America seven-day festival (Thursday, June 28 through Wednesday, July 4). The July 4th Concert will end with Philly’s largest Wawa Welcome America fireworks show in more than a decade. Produced by Pyrotechico and Comcast, the show will feature new special effects and a soundtrack dedicated to love.

City and Festival Officials Announce Plans for Upcoming Wawa Welcome America! Events

Details on entertainment, transportation, parking, security and other activities prior to and on July 4th.

WAWA WELCOME AMERICA ANNOUNCES HAPPY HOUR AND BRUNCH LOCATIONS AND DETAILS

Ben Franklin Will Be Popping-Up at Stoli Red, White & Blue Happy Hours and Brunches on
Friday, June 30 and Sunday, July 2 at Various Locations Throughout the City

MORE EVENTS, MORE DETAILS FOR WAWA WELCOME AMERICA JULY 4TH FESTIVAL, JUNE 29 - JULY 4

Get Free Up-Front Mary J. Blige and KIDZ BOP KIDS "Best Time Ever" Tour Concert Tickets, New Travel Packages & Deals, New Events, Fireworks Details, Mural Arts Philadelphia Monument Lab Summer Sampler & More!

WAWA WELCOME AMERICA 2017 FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 50 FREE EVENTS CELEBRATING THE NATION’S INDEPENDENCE DAY, JUNE 29 – JULY 4, 2017

The Honorable James F. Kenney, Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, and Welcome America, Inc. today announced 50 free events that will create the 2017 Wawa Welcome America six-day festival Thursday, June 29 through Tuesday, July 4. The Wawa Welcome America festival celebrates American history, education and Philadelphia. The 2017 festival will encompass free, patriotic events throughout the City and concludes with 12 hours of non-stop commemorations and celebrations on July 4th. The theme of this year’s 25th Anniversary Wawa Welcome America is “Everyone is a History Maker.”

Initial Details Announced for Wawa Welcome America July 4th Concert Starring Mary J. Blige

Welcome America, Inc. and Live Nation Philadelphia announce the first details of the 2017 Wawa Welcome America six-day festival Thursday, June 29 through Tuesday, July 4. New Concert and Broadcast Times; Earlier Fireworks at 9:30 p.m.; Boyz II Men Honored; Kidz BOP Kids Returns for Early Afternoon Concert, and the Premier of the Philly POPS BIG Band

Wawa Extends Title Sponsorship of Wawa Welcome America Through 2019

Wawa announced their continued investment in Wawa Welcome America as the title sponsor through 2019 as part of a Wawa Day celebration – honoring the most important date in Wawa’s history – the day Wawa opened its first convenience store in 1964. The extension through the year 2019 will mark the 10th year of Wawa’s title sponsorship of Philadelphia’s free July 4th celebration.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4 WAWA WELCOME AMERICA FREE FESTIVAL EVENTS

FREE MUSEUM DAY, CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM CEREMONY, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE, THE 4TH OF JULY COMMUNITY PICNIC IN THE PARK, TERMINI’S BIRTHDAY PARTY, NATURALIZATION CEREMONY, PARTY ON THE PARKWAY, WAWA WELCOME AMERICA JULY 4TH CONCERT & FIREWORKS, AND SAND SCULPTURE SPECTACULAR

SUNDAY, JULY 3 WAWA WELCOME AMERICA FREE FESTIVAL EVENTS

FREE MUSEUM DAY, HISTORIC PHILADELPHIA BLOCK PARTY, BREWS AND VIEWS, POPS ON INDEPENDENCE, AND SAND SCULPTURE SPECTACULAR

MONDAY, JULY 2 WAWA WELCOME AMERICA FREE FESTIVAL EVENTS

FREE MUSEUM DAY, PECO GO 4TH AND LEARN, PHILLY @ THE MOVIES, BROADWAY PHILADELPHIA ON INDEPENDENCE, RED WHITE & BLUE HAPPY HOURS, AND SAND SCULPTURE SPECTACULAR

SUNDAY, JULY 1 WAWA WELCOME AMERICA FREE FESTIVAL EVENTS

FREE MUSEUM DAY, ORANGETHEORY FREEDOM FIT FEST, GOSPEL ON INDEPENDENCE, PHILLY @ THE MOVIES, AND SAND SCULPTURE SPECTACULAR

FRIDAY, JUNE 29 WAWA WELCOME AMERICA FREE FESTIVAL EVENTS

FREE MUSEUM DAY, PECO GO 4TH & LEARN, RED WHITE AND BLUE HAPPY HOURS, CELEBRATION OF CULTURE AND COMMUNITY, PHILLY @ THE MOVIES, AND SAND SCULPTURE SPECTACULAR

THURSDAY, JUNE 28 WAWA WELCOME AMERICA FREE FESTIVAL EVENTS

WAWA HOAGIE DAY, FREE MUSEUM DAY, SUMMER LOVE LAUNCH PARTY, PHILLY @ THE MOVIES, & SAND SCULPTURE SPECTACULAR

2018 WAWA WELCOME AMERICA PRESS CONFERENCE

Wawa Welcome America Unveils 2018 Festival Schedule - 50 Free Events Over Seven Days Celebrating Philadelphia and America’s Independence

TUESDAY, JULY 4 WAWA WELCOME AMERICA FREE FESTIVAL EVENTS:

CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM CEREMONY, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA’S INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE, PARTY ON THE PARKWAY, ENTERTAINMENT ON INDEPENDENCE MALL, NATURALIZATION CEREMONY, JULY 4TH CONCERT & FIREWORKS, FREE MUSEUM DAYS, & SAND SCULPTURE SPECTACULAR

MONDAY, JULY 3 WAWA WELCOME AMERICA FREE FESTIVAL EVENTS:

FREE MUSEUM DAYS, HISTORIC DISTRICT BLOCK PARTY, POPS ON INDEPENDENCE CONCERT, PHILLY @ THE MOVIES, & SAND SCULPTURE SPECTACULAR

SUNDAY, JULY 2 WAWA WELCOME AMERICA FREE FESTIVAL EVENTS:

FREE MUSEUM DAYS, STOLI RED, WHITE, & BRUNCH, GO 4TH & LEARN AND PHILLY @ THE MOVIES: ROCKY EDITION, A CHANCE TO WIN UP-­‐FRONT TICKETS TO MARY J BLIGE, & SAND SCULPTURE SPECTACULAR

SATURDAY, JULY 1 WAWA WELCOME AMERICA FREE FESTIVAL EVENTS:

FREE MUSEUM DAYS, PERFORMANCES IN PUBLIC SPACES, WELLS FARGO COMMUNITY DAY, GO 4TH & LEARN, RED, WHITE & BREW FEST, THE FOOD TRUST’S NIGHT MARKET, PHILLY @ THE MOVIES, CONCERT AND FIREWORKS, & SAND SCULPTURE SPECTACULAR

FRIDAY, JUNE 30 WAWA WELCOME AMERICA FREE FESTIVAL EVENTS

Free Museum Day and Night, Go 4th & Learn, Happy Hours, Philly @ The Movies, Concert and Fireworks & Sand Sculpture Spectacular

THURSDAY, JUNE 29 WAWA WELCOME AMERICA FREE FESTIVAL EVENTS

Wawa Hoagie Day, Free Museum Day, Go 4th & Learn and Summer Mummers Concert, Philly @ the Movies, Sand Sculpture Spectacular

BOYZ II MEN STREET DEDICATION CEREMONY

Broad Street between Christian and Carpenter Streets in South Philadelphia will be named for Hometown History-Makers Boyz II Men on Saturday, June 24th at 11:00 a.m.

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE TO BE ANNOUNCED FEATURING 50+ FREE EVENTS

Join us at the Independence Visitor Center on May 23, 2017 at 1:30 p.m. when Welcome America, Inc., the City of Philadelphia, Wawa, Live Nation Philadelphia and partners will announce details of 50 free events for the 2017 Wawa Welcome America six-day festival Thursday, June 29 through Tuesday, July 4.