Nonprofit Web sites a hit at the Webbys.(FACEBOOK)

Some 17.0RG Web sites were recognized in almost two dozen categories in this year's Webby Awards.

Established in 1996, the Webbys are presented by The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, a 650-member body of Web experts, business figures, luminaries, visionaries and creative celebrities.

The Webbys continue to see a significant rise in.ORG winners, with 22 this year.

"As the official sponsor of this year's Webby Awards, I am excited to cheer on the nominees as well as the winners." said Alexa Raad, CEO of .ORG, The Public Interest Registry, (www.pir.org), the Reston, Va.based company behind the domain name.

Nearly half a million votes were cast by people around the world for their favorite winners in The Webby People's Voice Awards and winners of the 13th Annual Webby Awards hail from 14 countries.

WEBBY AWARDS

Student: Missionlocal.org, Graduate School of Journalism at the University of California-Berkeley Charitable Organizations Nonprofit: nature.org, The Nature Conservancy Cultural Institutions: Guggenheim.org, Guggenheim Museum Education: Smarthistory.org Government: BayBridge360.org Health:TakeCareDownThere.org, Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette Law: Womanslaw.org Music: NPR.org, National Public Radio Netart: Dreamgrove.org Radio: NPR.org, National Public Radio Tourism: Tourisme-montreal.org Youth: Kids.tate.org.uk

PEOPLE'S VOICE AWARDS

Associations: iwmf.org, International Women's Media Foundation Education: Edutopica.org Humor: Failblog.org Radio: NPR.org, National Public Radio Netart: Jacksonpollock.org Politics: FactCheck.org Podcasts: NPR.org, National Public Radio Youth: Dosomething.org Weird: Failblog.org