$1 million in financial contributions awarded in fourth annual Volvo for life Awards, including car for life. Nominate at www.volvoforlifeawards.com through Jan. 15, 2006
Detroit, Michigan (Jan. 9, 2006) - Do you know a hero - someone in your community seeking to improve the quality of life, safety and/or environment of others? If so, only one week remains to nominate that person for the Volvo for life Awards - the nation’s largest annual search for and celebration of everyday heroes.
Volvo Cars of North America leads the annual national initiative, honoring and rewarding local heroes with $1 million in financial contributions. The top hometown hero will win a Volvo car every three years for life. To nominate someone you know, visit www.volvoforlifeawards.com through Jan. 15, 2006.
Now in its fourth year, the Volvo for life Awards seeks ordinary people doing extraordinary things - such as an amputee working to collect and donate used but reusable limbs to amputees overseas; a domestic abuse survivor helping American women escape abusive relationships while living abroad; and an activist bringing timber proponents and environmentalists together to revitalize her community and the environment. Throughout the nomination period, Volvo profiles select nominees on www.volvoforlifeawards.com and in the media.
Volvo conducts the initiative to celebrate the efforts of hometown heroes, and to inspire others to make a difference within their own communities.
“Throughout the initiative’s three-year history, we’ve received stories of more than 10,000 everyday heroes nationwide,” said Anne Bélec, president and chief executive officer of Volvo Cars of North America. “Each person is an inspiring and compelling individual who in his or her unique way has dramatically improved a person’s life or brought change to a community. We applaud everyone’s efforts, and we encourage people to nominate their own hero in the coming week.”
In March 2006, Volvo will announce the names of 100 semi-finalists and honor their individual accomplishments with a Certificate of Merit. Three finalists in each nomination category will then be selected.
A panel of distinguished judges representing some of the world’s foremost experts on conscience, care and character –– including Hank Aaron, Bill Bradley, Richard Branson, Caroline Kennedy, Maya Lin, Paul Newman, Sally Ride, Eunice Kennedy Shriver and last year’s top winner, Hope Bevilhymer - will name one winner for each of the three categories. The category winners each will receive $50,000 to be donated to the charities of their choice. The remaining six finalists each will receive a $25,000 charitable donation.
In April 2006, Volvo will honor the three category winners at the Volvo for life Awards Ceremony in New York City. Each year the event features top music entertainment and a celebrity host, as well as documentaries profiling the category winners. The grand award winner, selected by the judges, will be named “America’s Greatest Hometown Hero” and presented with a Volvo car every three years for the rest of his or her life.
To learn more or to nominate a hero, visit www.volvoforlifeawards.com. A Spanish version of the site can also be accessed at this address.
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Contact:
Sören Johansson,
Volvo Cars of North America,
949-341-6719,
sjohan44@volvocars.com.
Eric Davis,
Haberman & Associates,
612-372-6447,
eric@modernstorytellers.com.
Media:
For photos and more information on the Volvo for life Awards: www.volvocars-pr.com.
