FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
National vote underway for all-time greatest heroes – five per state – in 5th Anniversary Volvo for life Awards
Vote for top heroes at www.volvoforlifeawards.com; $1 million in financial contributions provided; winner receives Volvo car for life
IRVINE, Calif. (November 13, 2006) – Who would you give a Volvo to? How about Jessica Mott of Bloomington who started Mother Hubbard's Cupboard (MHC), a food pantry that provides healthy food to people in need? Or Sally Bindley of Indianapolis who started School on Wheels to provide free one-on-one tutoring for homeless children? Or Camille Miller of Marion who started the Young American Health Foundation to help prevent adolescent and childhood obesity?
These are just three of the five extraordinary Indiana heroes named as semi-finalists in the 5th Anniversary Volvo for life Awards – Volvo’s annual search for hometown heroes across America. This year, in honor of the Awards’ 5th anniversary, Volvo selected the top five heroes from every state in America and is asking the American public to visit www.volvoforlifeawards.com to vote for their favorites now through February 4, 2007.
Who in Indiana would you give a Volvo to? Representing Indiana in this year’s Volvo for life Awards are:
- Sally Bindley of Indianapolis left her corporate career five years ago to start School on Wheels Corp., a non-profit organization that provides free one-on-one supplemental tutoring for homeless children. Bindley started School on Wheels with only two staff members and four volunteer tutors who helped teach 50 children in its first year of operation. Today, thanks to Bindley’s passion, perseverance and guidance, School on Wheels has almost 600 volunteers who have provided more than 8,000 hours of learning, happiness and hope to thousands of homeless children.
- Jason Crowe of Newburgh embarked on a decade of giving when he lost his grandmother to cancer at age nine and started a by-kids-for-kids newspaper to raise money for cancer research. The very next year, after reading about a Bosnian cellist who answered war with music, Crowe founded The Cello Cries On, an organization to unite youth to work for human rights, social justice and peace. He went on to found the Warrick County Springs Food Drive; the international group, Youth for Peace; a local student group, Youth for Harmony in Action; a literacy program, Read-Succeed-Lead; and a response to September 11 called Remember the Children Yellow Bow Campaign.
- Alexandra Holderman of Mishawaka started “Baby Bundles” at age five after seeing a teen mom carrying her baby dressed only in a t-shirt and diaper in the middle of winter. With the help of her parents, she started collecting baby clothing, blankets, diapers and other supplies for infants. Now, seven years later, Holderman has provided “Baby Bundles” to more than 2,000 infants born to needy single and teenaged mothers.
- Camille Miller of Marion started the Young American Health Foundation, a non-profit organization to help prevent adolescent and childhood obesity. Miller undertook an intensive marathon-training program to prepare for the 2006 New York City marathon with a goal to lose 100 pounds while raising awareness and money for her cause. Her efforts have helped her fund after-school programs and summer camps that provide physical activities, proper nutrition and health education to overweight kids.
- Jessica Mott of Bloomington started Mother Hubbard's Cupboard (MHC), a food pantry that provides healthy foods, nutrition and gardening education to people in need. Mott, a former food aid recipient, wanted to give back to her community and provide food to people in a respectful, healthful way. Now, with the help of 70 volunteers, MHC serves more than 1,200 people each week. Following a simple sign-in process that requires no justification of need, patrons get one grocery bag per person in the household to fill as they wish. MHC also offers patrons the chance to volunteer and help run the pantry they use.
Once the public vote concludes, the top three vote getters in the categories of safety, quality of life and environment will be named finalists. Then, a panel of distinguished judges – including Hank Aaron, Sen. Bill Bradley, Caroline Kennedy, Maya Lin, Paul Newman, Dr. Sally Ride, Val Kilmer, Eunice Kennedy Shriver and previous Volvo for life Awards top winners – will select winners in each category. Winners receive a $50,000 charitable contribution from Volvo; remaining finalists receive a $25,000 contribution.
On April 4, 2007, Volvo will fly the winning heroes to New York, where Volvo and members of the celebrity-judging panel will honor them at the 5th Annual Volvo for life Awards Ceremony. At the climax of the ceremony, Volvo will reveal which of the three top heroes is also the Grand Award winner of a Volvo vehicle every three years for the rest of his or her life.
“Over the past five years the Volvo for life Awards initiative has received more than 15,000 hero nominations,” said Anne Bélec, president and chief executive officer of Volvo Cars of North America. “All of these heroes demonstrate incredible conscience, care and character. Having the public help us select the winning heroes is a truly exciting – and democratic – addition to this year’s program.”
To learn more, or to vote for your favorite hero, visit www.volvoforlifeawards.com. A Spanish version of the site can also be accessed at this address.
# # #
Contact:
Carol Schuler
Haberman & Associates
612-372-6451
Carol@habermaninc.com
Sören Johansson
Volvo Cars of North America
949-341-6719
sjohan44@volvocars.com
Media:
For photos and more information on the Volvo for life Awards visit
http://www.volvocars-pr.com
Descriptions and facts in this press material relate to Volvo Cars' international car range. Described features might be optional. Vehicle specifications may vary from one country to another and may be altered without prior notification.
