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Six projects selected, including 'Woori Neighborhood Care Delivery' — full fundraising drive set for second half of year; care and welfare projects dominate picks
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Guro District, led by District Mayor Jang In-hong, has selected six outstanding ideas — including one grand prize winner — through its 2026 Hometown Love Donation designated project competition.
The competition was organized to identify practical projects that donors could connect with. Submissions were accepted across four categories: support for socially vulnerable groups and youth development and protection; promotion of culture, arts and public health for local residents; civic participation, volunteering and community revitalization; and other projects to improve residents' general welfare. A total of 48 proposals were received.
The district evaluated submissions on project suitability and creativity through a preliminary departmental review and a full review by the Hometown Love Fund Management Deliberation Committee. On April 24, it announced the final selections: one grand prize winner (300,000 won, about $202), two excellence prize winners (200,000 won, about $135, each) and three encouragement prize winners (100,000 won, about $67, each).
The grand prize went to "Woori Neighborhood Care Delivery: Building a Lifestyle Safety Net Through Hometown Love Donations," a project that partners with local small businesses to regularly deliver daily necessities to vulnerable residents.
The two excellence prizes went to "A Guro Where It's Good to Have Children — Baby Product Rental Support Project," which would provide rentals of car seats, bottle sterilizers and similar items, and "A Guro That Moves Your Day," which would expand the supply of manual wheelchairs available for loan at community centers and other facilities.
The three encouragement prizes went to "Woori Neighborhood Park QR Fitness Coach," which would attach QR codes linking to exercise videos on park workout equipment; "Lay a Yellow Carpet for Guro's Future," aimed at creating safer pedestrian environments in school zones; and "Guro Future Generation Companion Project," which would connect teenagers and youth for career and vocational mentoring.
The district said it will review the selected proposals and other ideas that advanced to the final round for feasibility and public benefit before confirming which projects to pursue. Following deliberation on the fund management plan and approval by the district council, it plans to register the designated donation projects and launch full-scale fundraising in July or August.
"Through this competition, we were able to identify tailored projects that the community truly needs," a district official said. "We will carry them out with substance so that both donors and beneficiaries can feel the impact."
The Hometown Love Donation system allows individuals to donate to local governments outside their registered address in exchange for tax deductions and thank-you gifts. The funds raised are used for local welfare and community revitalization projects.
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