5th Annual Volvo for Life Awards

Move over American Idol, results are in from an America votes tally that really counts. For the past six months the American public has been voting to decide the country's favorite hometown heroes in the 5th Annual Volvo for life Awards. Now, after counting 676,903 votes, the top three heroes in the categories of Safety, Environment and Quality of Life can be revealed. Heroes rising to the top of the voting pool include a courageous African refugee and mother of nine children who created an international organization to help refugees, a widow who bravely turned her own tragedy into a personal mission for safe teenage driving and a 15-year-old cancer survivor who raises money for cancer research while helping the planet by driving an ink cartridge recycling initiative.

The Volvo for life Awards (www.volvoforlifeawards.com) is the largest-ever national search for and celebration of everyday heroes, with Volvo Cars of North America providing $1 million in awards and contributions in their honor.

Now, the Volvo for life Awards' distinguished panel of judges -- including Hank Aaron, Sen. Bill Bradley, Caroline Kennedy, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Val Kilmer, Maya Lin, Paul Newman, Dr. Sally Ride and previous grand award winners -- will review the finalists' nominations to select the program's three category winners. Volvo will then select a grand award 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 August 2006, called for individuals nationwide to visit www.volvoforlifeawards.com and vote for their favorite unsung hometown hero. America selected the following heroes to be the Fifth Anniversary finalists:

Volvo will fly the three category winners to New York to be honored at the world famous Cipriani's during the Volvo for life Awards ceremony on April 5, 2007. At the event, Volvo and program judges will present a short film documenting each winner and present him 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 receive donations of $25,000 to the charities of their choice.

Top child heroes also are being judged for the third-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 5th Annual Volvo for life Awards will be hosted by actor Benjamin Bratt and will feature musical performances by various artists. During the ceremony, Volvo will also present a Volvo for life Friendship Award and $25,000 to a buddy pair for their friendship and their contribution to Best Buddies. Visit www.volvoforlifeawards.com for more information on the Volvo for life Awards and to view hundreds of hero stories, including this year's finalists....>>next page