Vote for Wyoming's Greatest Hometown Heroes

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., Oct. 11 -- Who would you give a Volvo to? How about Ronn Jeffrey from Cheyenne who has spent the past 35 years helping troubled teens? Or Jill Morrison from Story who has dedicated more than ten years to reforming dangerous coal mining practices? Or Judy Shepard from Casper who turned her grief over losing her son into a powerful voice against hate-crimes?

These are just three of the five extraordinary Wyoming 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 Wyoming would you give a Volvo to? Representing Wyoming in this year's Volvo for life Awards are:

  *  Ronn Jeffrey from Cheyenne has poured his heart and soul into helping
     troubled teens through his organization, Youth Alternatives.  For more
     than 35 years, Jeffrey has guided youth to a better future through
     mentoring, counseling, tutoring and community service.  Under his
     dedicated and compassionate direction, Youth Alternatives has grown
     from a small, one full-time, five-person staffed volunteer office to a
     full-fledged Department of the City, with 20 staff and 115 mentors that
     receives local, state and national recognition.

  *  Susie McMurry from Casper founded the McMurry Foundation in 1998 to
     "Pay it Forward," within Wyoming communities.  Under McMurry's
     direction, the foundation has used its "Pay it Forward" motto to
     powerful effect, helping a broad range of programs and causes in the
     crucial areas of education, religion, children and advocacy for
     children, health and human services and the arts and humanities.

  *  Jill Morrison from Story has spent more than ten years rallying the
     community, ranchers, regulators and industry leaders to reform coal
     mining practices in the Powder River Basin -- home of the largest coal
     strip mines in North America and the largest coal bed methane gas
     development. Morrison's passion and stamina have helped prevent
     unnecessary development in wilderness areas and stopped ongoing
     practices that pose a threat to the environment.

  *  Judy Shepard from Casper lost her son, Matthew, to a violent act of
     anti-gay hatred in 1998.  Since then, Shepard has turned her
     overwhelming grief into a powerful voice against hate-crimes.  Under
     her tireless direction, the Matthew Shepard Foundation has created a
     strong legacy for Matthew in its fight for gay and lesbian equality and
     its efforts to change hate crime legislation.  She has helped spread
     the message of respect, acceptance, compassion and justice to millions
     both nationally and internationally.

  *  Marilyn Skogen from Casper has dedicated her time and energy over the
     past eight years to promoting understanding and caring for individuals
     with disabilities, and support for their families, through the Silver
     Ribbon Campaign.  A wife and mother of four children, one of whom has
     significant disabilities, supporting families with disabled children is
     perhaps closest to Skogen's heart.  Skogen's compassionate advocacy has
     had impact through local, regional and state levels of government, and
     now the Silver Ribbon Campaign's initiatives and goals have expanded
     throughout the United States.

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 Belec, 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.

NOTE TO EDITORS: For photos and more information on the Volvo for life Awards visit www.volvocars-pr.com