The Whidbey Environmental Action Network will be the recipient of a $40,000 grant from the Boeing Employees’ Credit Union after winning the organization’s People’s Choice Award.

WEAN received the most votes from community members of the 18 organizations in the running for the grant from the credit union, known as BECU.

WEAN founder Marianne Edain said she was “gobsmacked” by the show of support WEAN received from the community.

“Thank you to the very many people who took the time and effort to vote for us,” she said.

Edain said BECU told her there were more than 9,000 votes cast in the People’s Choice contest.

She added that WEAN will put the grant funds toward hiring an executive director, an essential step in WEAN’s “growing up and becoming a real organization.”

“This is the opportunity to expand our scope and intensify our activities,” she said.

Another Whidbey organization, Readiness to Learn, will also receive a grant of at least $15,000 from BECU. All nominees will receive a community benefit award of $15,000 or more.