Vote for Missouri'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., Jan. 11 -- Who would you give a Volvo to? How about Sandra Irle of Warrensburg who worked for more than six years to restore and re-imagine Blind Boone Park? Or Denise Brock of Moscow Mills, who helps plant workers who developed cancer after working at Mallinckrodt Chemical Works? Or Steve Flick of Kingsville, who established the Western Johnson County Medical Clinic to provide affordable and accessible health care to people in his rural community?
These are just three of the five extraordinary Missouri 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 Missouri would you give a Volvo to? Representing Missouri in this year's Volvo for life Awards are:
* Denise Brock of Moscow Mills, has been dubbed the "Erin Brockovich of
Missouri," thanks to her tireless work on behalf of plant workers who
developed cancer after working at Mallinckrodt Chemical Works. A cancer
survivor herself, Brock first learned of the extent of Uranium poisoning
from the plant while in court fighting for money to cover expenses
incurred when her late father developed cancer after years of working at
the plant. Since then, Brock and her mother have been educating plant
workers and their families, as well as the community in general, about
Uranium and Beryllium poisoning. Brock also advocates for the claims of
these families.
* Farmer and Seed Company CEO, Steve Flick of Kingsville, established the
Western Johnson County Medical Clinic to provide affordable and
accessible health care to farmers, rural residents and employees of
local small businesses, who previously had to travel more than 30 miles
for medical care. Flick bought a defunct equipment store and recruited
the help of local tradesmen to build the clinic from the ground up.
Since the doors opened October 15, 2004, the full time, full service
medical clinic has helped more than 5,000 patients. A foundation since
established helps Western Johnson County Medical Clinic, as well as
other rural health care clinics in Johnson County, to address the health
care needs of rural residents.
* Sandra Irle of Warrensburg worked for more than six years to restore and
re-imagine Blind Boone Park, built in 1954 for the African-American
community during segregation. Irle recognized the importance of the
park and brought together more than 3,000 volunteers from White and
Black communities to restore the park and protect its history. Under
Irle's leadership, the trash-filled, weed-strangled space has been
transformed into a beautiful park, complete with gardens, lawns, sensory
walkways for the visually impaired and a large gazebo for musical
performances. Blind Boone Park, created in an era of exclusion and
discrimination, is now a garden of inclusion, unity and community for
all the city's citizens.
* Jack Orchard of St. Louis co-founded "Extra Hands for ALS" to help
families who suffer with Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS), despite being an
ALS sufferer himself with only the power of his mind and the use of one
finger to operate a computer. The program provides high school and
college student volunteers the skills they need to become "friendly
visitors," helping with mail or e-mail, housecleaning, getting
groceries, doing yard work, reading aloud or simply providing company to
ALS patients. Students also participate in public awareness events,
such as organizing an ALS Awareness Day at their school or running an
information booth at a community fair. To date, hundreds of students
have worked thousands of hours all over the country for the cause.
* Dr. John Small of Hartsburg established a clinic, which employs several
other volunteer therapists and students, to provide free counseling
services to the poor and homeless. Dr. Small works for himself and
commits 20 hours (over and above his typical 40 hour work week) each
week to provide services and free clinic office space and to train
younger therapists and psychiatric nurses so they can continue this work
when he retires.
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.
Volvo and members of the celebrity-judging panel will honor the winning heroes on April 5, 2007 at the 42nd St. Cipriani during the 5th Annual Volvo for life Awards Ceremony. There, 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