[UPDATE: VOTING IS NOW OVER]

Earlier this month, 7x7 readers were asked to vote for their seven most beloved nonprofits in our annual Bay Area's Favorite Charities Contest, sponsored by Pacific Gas & Electric Company. This year's numbers were record breaking. Ten organizations, not seven, rose to the top—that's right, we had a couple of ties!

To thank these important organizations for their amazing dedication, six of the 10 finalists will receive a $2,000 donation from PG&E. The nonprofit that receives the most votes of all will take home a cool $10,000 to help further their mission. Happy holidays, indeed!

Read about how these awesome orgs are helping the Bay Area below. Then, click to vote at the bottom of the page. The final round ends on November 22nd at 5pm, so get your vote on!

VOTING IS NOW CLOSED.

Down Syndrome Connection of the Bay Area

The Down Syndrome Connection is dedicated to encouraging the unlimited potential in children and adults with Down syndrome throughout the San Francisco Bay Area since 1998. // dsconnection.org

Breakthrough SF

Breakthrough SF provides year-round academic enrichment for elementary, middle school, and high school students with limited education opportunities to help them attend college, and trains college students for educational careers. // breakthroughsf.org

Horizons at SF Friends School

Horizons is an academic enrichment summer program run by the SF Friends School that aims to close the opportunity gap for families who cannot afford to send their children to academic summer camps. // sffriendsschool.org/horizons

JCYC College Access Programs

JCYC provides culturally competent, comprehensive college preparation, information, and assistance targeting multicultural students of low-income who are the first of their family to enroll in college. // jcyccollegeaccess.org/sfcac.htm

Family Builders

Family builders offers free services helping find permanent, safe, stable, and nurturing families for children and youth in the foster care system. // familybuilders.org

The Bread Project

The Bread Project empowers individuals with limited resources on their path to self-sufficiency through skills instruction, on-the-job training, and assistance with establishing a career in the food service industry. // breadproject.org

Oakland Emiliano Zapata Street Academy

This small school is a fully accredited college preparatory high school with a focus to inspire and empower young adults in community-base social justice education. // oaklandstreetacademy.org

Animal Assisted Happiness

Animal Assisted Happiness extends support to families experiencing special needs, health, or family challenges through different interactive programs with barnyard animals. // animalassistedhappiness.org

East Oakland Youth Development Center

Providing free academic and community-based programs, the East Oakland Youth Development Center aims to engage inner city youth in learning and mastering skills that contribute to both their own wellbeing and that of the community. // eoydc.org

Girls Incorporated of Alameda County

Girls Inc. offers academic enrichment activities, skill-building programs, and counseling services to girls and their families. // girlsinc-alameda.org