Volvo Cars of North America announced today it is doubling its charitable donation to the top three heroes in its 6th Annual Volvo for life Awards. Volvo is accepting hometown hero nominations for the nation’s largest annual search for - and celebration of - everyday heroes at http://www.volvoforlifeawards.com/ now through Oct. 15. Three winning heroes - one in each category of Safety, Quality of Life and Environment - will receive $100,000 for their charities; two runners up in each category will receive $25,000 charitable contributions. 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.
“Our awards program recognizes and rewards people already doing amazing things in their communities, often with very little help or resources, ” said Anne Bélec, president and chief executive officer for Volvo Cars of North America. “We’re thrilled to be able to do our part through the Volvo for life Awards to bring funding and awareness to their causes. By increasing our contributions this year, we hope to continue to see our heroes’ dreams fulfilled. “
Since 2002, Volvo Cars of North America has identified more than 17,000 everyday heroes in its annual Volvo for life Awards, and has contributed millions of dollars to their causes. The money has gone to a wide variety of projects over the past five years, including helping to build a maternal and childcare center in Ethiopia, developing an International crisis line devoted to helping women and children abused abroad and building straw bale housing communities on the Hopi Reservation in Arizona.
When the nomination period closes Oct. 15, Volvo will select the top 10 semi-finalist heroes in the categories of Safety, Quality of Life and Environment. This year, there is also a fourth Volvo for life Awards category. Volvo is elevating its annual Butterfly Award to its own youth hero category - with a $25,000 charitable donation for the winner and $10,000 to two runners up - and welcomes nominations for heroes 16 and under.
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 will be 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.
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