Chevrolet Celebrates Inspirational Individuals
FOR RELEASE: October 4, 2001Chevrolet Selects Americans With Inspiring Stories To Carry The Olympic Flame
Chevrolet Celebrates Inspirational Individuals in Hometowns Across the Country
DETROIT - Chevrolet is honoring some of America's most inspiring individuals by selecting them to carry the Olympic Flame during the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Torch Relay. John Tomlin of Littleton, Colo., Joan Phelps of Warren, Pa., and Molly McMaster of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., are among thousands of individuals who represent the Olympic Spirit through their own personal stories of inspiration. Chevrolet will share the stories of these individuals as they prepare to carry the Olympic Flame on its 46-state, 65-day, 13,500-mile cross-country journey to Salt Lake City. Chevrolet is a presenting sponsor of the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Torch Relay.
The men and women nominated and selected as torchbearers have made a difference by inspiring others, serving their community in an exemplary manner, overcoming adversity and embodying the Olympic Spirit in their every day lives. A total of 3,505 Torchbearers were chosen through Chevrolet's program.
Americans from all walks of life will share in the honor of carrying the Olympic Flame:
John Tomlin experienced deep personal loss when his son John was killed in the library of Columbine High School. In the aftermath of this tragedy, John Sr. started the John Tomlin Youth Short-Term Mission Scholarship Fund through the family's church. After learning of John Jr.'s service to others, Chevrolet decided to memorialize his life by supporting the building of a Habitat for Humanity house in his honor. It was that experience and John Sr.'s quiet determination and inspiring story that led Chevrolet to start Chevy R.O.C.K. (Reaching Out to Communities and Kids), a national initiative dedicated to helping provide children with safe schools and communities.
Joan Phelps, 62, is blind and an avid athlete who has excelled in cross-country skiing, including a recent third place finish in a 20K biathlon in Norway. In 1993, she became the first blind person to reach Mt. McKinley's summit. She accomplished the feat with her two sons. Phelps uses the experience as an opportunity to address numerous civic groups about overcoming challenges. Two years ago Molly McMaster, 25, was diagnosed with colon cancer. She survived the disease and roller-bladed more than 2000 miles from New York to Colorado to raise money and awareness about colon cancer. A local disc jockey, McMaster also started the Sunflower Fund to raise money and awareness for young cancer patients.
"Chevrolet is privileged to share the inspiring and heartwarming stories of the Americans who were nominated and selected to carry the Olympic Flame," said Kurt Ritter, general manager of Chevrolet. "Carrying the Olympic Flame will be a memory they will cherish for the rest of their lives. Chevrolet is touched by the inspirational stories of these individuals and we celebrate each torchbearers' quiet acts of kindness and selflessness."
The start of the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Torch Relay is less than 90 days away. The Olympic Flame will begin its journey on Dec. 4 in Atlanta, which was the last place it rested on U.S. soil, and cross the country for the Opening Ceremony in Salt Lake City, making stops in 125 major cities and hundreds of small towns along the way. Each of the approximately 11,500 torchbearers will carry the flame approximately 0.2 miles, or about two city blocks.
Last spring, Chevrolet and its 4,300 dealers offered Americans the chance to experience the excitement and emotion of the Olympic Winter Games by nominating an individual to carry the Olympic Flame. Nominations required a short essay describing how candidates inspired others and nominations were accepted at Chevrolet dealerships and online at www.chevy.com.
In addition to torchbearers, the Olympic Flame will travel via Chevrolet cars and trucks, airplane, train, ship, dog sled, skier, horse-drawn sleigh, snowmobile, ice skaters and other unique modes of transportation, including a customized Chevrolet Avalanche outfitted with a special Olympic Cauldron.
The Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Torch Relay will make its way to millions of Americans through the support of the Olympic Torch Relay caravan, including a Chevrolet Z06 Corvette pace car, a TrailBlazer pilot vehicle, an Impala utility vehicle, the Avalanche command vehicle and a Suburban broom vehicle. The overall Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Torch Relay convoy includes nearly 50 Chevrolet cars and trucks, which will be used for advance operations, torchbearer shuttles, stage production trucks and support equipment. Chevrolet's fleet of cars and trucks will help to ensure the safe arrival of the Olympic Flame from city to city, and eventually into the Olympic Stadium in Salt Lake City.
Chevrolet Motor Division has a long history of supporting the spirit of the Olympic Games through partnerships with many sport national governing bodies, including the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, U.S. Figure Skating Association, U.S. Soccer Federation, USA Hockey and USA Triathalon.
Chevrolet is the largest division of General Motors, which is the official domestic automotive sponsor of the U.S. Olympic Team through 2004. Headquartered in Detroit, Chevrolet fulfills the transportation needs of more than 36 million Americans daily - more than any other manufacturer - and offers the broadest lineup of cars, trucks and vans in the industry. For more information go to www.chevy.com.
