HERO ROUND-UP NEARING AN END;
TWO WEEKS REMAIN FOR NOMINATIONS
Nominate everyday heroes for the 6th Annual Volvo for life Awards through Oct. 15 at http://www.volvoforlifeawards.com/
Top winners receive $100,000; grand award winner also gets a Volvo car for life
(IRVINE, Calif.) Oct. 2, 2007 -- In the next two weeks, you could help change someone's life. Nominations for the 6th Annual Volvo for life Awards - the nation's largest annual search for and celebration of everyday heroes -are open now through midnight, Oct. 15. If you know someone in your community who deserves recognition for what they do to help others, nominate him or her at http://www.volvoforlifeawards.com/ for a chance to win a lifetime of Volvo cars along with a $100,000 charitable contribution.
So far, this year's nominees include a woman who created a leadership organization that trains girls as activists to fight body dissatisfaction and eating disorders, a young girl who established a children's bilingual theater to teach language and public speaking skills and a man who founded an organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of youth violence. Every hero celebrated in the program has one thing in common: they are ordinary people who are making a positive difference in the lives of others.
"We've already received some incredible hero stories this year, but there's always room for more," said Anne Bélec, president and chief executive officer for Volvo Cars of North America. "Since 2002, Volvo has identified more than 18,000 everyday heroes and we know there are at least 18,000 more individuals in this country deserving of a nomination."
Volvo Cars of North America leads the national initiative, honoring and rewarding local heroes with $1 million in financial contributions each year. This year, Volvo doubled the charitable donation amount given to the top three winners. One top hero in each of the categories of Safety, Quality of Life and Environment will receive $100,000 for their charities; two runners-up in each category will receive $25,000. One extraordinary winner will go on to receive the title "America's Greatest Hometown Hero," and with it, a new Volvo car every three years for life.
A fourth Volvo for life Awards category is up for grabs this year - but only America's kids can reach it. Volvo is elevating its annual Butterfly Award to its own youth hero category - with a $25,000 prize for the winner and $10,000 to two runners up - and welcomes nominations for heroes 16 and under.
When the nomination period closes Oct. 15, Volvo will select the top 10 semi-finalist heroes in the categories of Safety, Quality of Life, Environment and the Butterfly Award. From Nov. 7, 2007, through Jan. 7, 2008, the American public will be invited to visit http://www.volvoforlifeawards.com/ to vote for their favorite heroes. The voting process will narrow the semi-finalist pool to three finalists in each category.
A panel of distinguished judges will then select one winner in each of the four categories. A Grand Award Winner, selected from the Safety, Quality of Life and Environment categories, will be named "America's Greatest Hometown Hero" and presented with a new Volvo car every three years for the rest of his or her life at the annual Volvo for life Awards Ceremony in New York City, March 19, 2008.
To learn more or to nominate a hero, visit http://www.volvoforlifeawards.com/. A Spanish version of the site can also be accessed at this address.
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Contact:
Kim McMartin
Haberman & Associates
612-372-6464
Media:
For photos and more information on the Volvo for Life Awards: http://www.volvocars-pr.com/.
