America's Greatest Unsung Heroes Revealed
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Celebrity Judges to Name Winners April 12 in New York City at the Rainbow Room; One Hero Will Receive a Volvo Car for Life
NEW YORK - March 1, 2006: Who is America's greatest hometown hero? A Maryland mother turned anti-child predator crusader, an Ethiopian immigrant in Detroit rallying volunteers to address a health crisis in his homeland or a Nebraska teenager educating others to prevent water-related ecological disasters? These heroes are among the nine finalists named today in the 4th annual Volvo for life Awards.
The Volvo for life Awards (www.volvoforlifeawards.com) is the largest-ever national search for and celebration of everyday heroes in the categories of safety, quality of life and environment, with Volvo Cars of North America providing $1 million in awards and contributions in honor of heroes.
Now, the Volvo for life Awards' distinguished panel of judges -- including Hank Aaron, Senator Bill Bradley, Caroline Kennedy, Sir Richard Branson, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Val Kilmer, Maya Lin, Paul Newman and Dr. Sally Ride -- will review the finalists' nominations to select the program's three category winners. Volvo will then select a grand winner who will receive a new Volvo every three years for life and the distinction of being named "America's Greatest Hometown Hero."
The program, launched in July 2005, called for individuals nationwide to visit www.volvoforlifeawards.com and nominate an unsung hometown hero they know doing the extraordinary. Volvo received 4,341 nominations representing all 50 states. Finalists were announced in three categories, including:
Safety:
* Gary Slutkin, a 55-year-old Chicago epidemiologist who has created a violence forecaster and prevention program, "CeaseFire," which has reduced gang shootings in some neighborhoods by 75 percent.
* Billy Kemp, a 40-year-old Franklin, Tenn., high school teacher who after the deaths of three students in auto accidents -- with none wearing seatbelts -- created "Be in the Click," a highly effective, grassroots seatbelt awareness campaign that has reached 65,000 students.
* Sophia West, a 44-year-old Beltsville, Md., mom who as a child was sexually abused and as an adult discovered her son had been as well -- and has since become a national, bilingual anti-sexual predator spokesperson.
Quality of Life:
* Ingida Asfaw, a 68-year-old Detroit heart surgeon and Ethiopian immigrant who kept a four-decade long promise to himself by mobilizing 550 medical professionals and volunteers stateside to address his homeland's healthcare crises.
* Jeannette Kendall, a 47-year-old, Ellicott City, Md., top fashion designer who now devotes her skills and passion to providing low-income, job-seeking women with professional business attire and interviewing skills for gaining entry in to the workplace.
* Eva Payne, a 30-year-old Santa Clarita, Calif., idealist who has created from scratch a summer camp of hope and dreams for kids infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS.
Environment:
* Oliver Barton, 42, of New Haven, Conn., who gave up a career in medicine to promote sustainability in his college alma mater's needy neighborhoods by building a massive environmental charter school and urban farm.
* Jane Williams, 47, of Rosamond, Calif., who as a second-generation environmentalist maintains the nation's longest-running community environmental advocacy group by unifying and mobilizing a diverse group of communities to improve antiquated environmental regulations.
* Jami Harper, 17, of Grand Island, Neb., whose town's tainted water supply turned the teenager into an environmental educator for communities nationwide.
Volvo will fly the three category winners to New York to be honored at the Rainbow Room during the Volvo for life Awards ceremony on April 12, 2006. At the event, Volvo and program judges will present a short film documenting each winner and present him and/or her with a $50,000 contribution to the charity of his or her choice. In addition, they will announce the program's grand winner, who will receive a new Volvo car every three years for the rest of his or her life and will be named "America's Greatest Hometown Hero." The remaining six finalists will each receive a donation of $25,000 to the charities of their choice.
"Each year with the Volvo for life Awards, we seek to not only recognize everyday heroes, but to also inspire others to do good in their communities," said Anne Belec, president and chief executive officer of Volvo Cars of North America. "Selecting our nine finalists from more than 4,300 nominations was a daunting task. While their stories are unique, they share a passion for creating change within their communities that will have lasting impacts for generations to come."
Top child heroes also are being judged for the second-annual Alexandra Scott Butterfly Award. The award is in honor of Alexandra Scott, a Volvo for life Awards winner from Wynnewood, Pa., who before passing away at age eight from cancer raised more than $1 million for pediatric cancer research through lemonade sales and other fundraising activities. Alexandra's parents will select the winner, who will receive a $25,000 charitable contribution and special recognition at the awards ceremony.
The 4th annual Volvo for life Awards will be hosted by actor Benjamin Bratt and will feature musical performances by Avril Lavigne and others.
