* William Dunckelman of Houma, founded Fine Arts Motivating the Elderly
(F.A.M.E.), an organization created to improve the lives of elderly
people in nursing and assisted-living homes by collecting and donating
fine arts materials, literature and music. F.A.M.E. has collected
thousands of books, tapes, CDs and other materials for distribution to
elderly homes in every state. More than one thousand kids have helped
with the project, doing anything from collecting entertainment materials
to holding small theater productions at nursing homes.
* For 14 years, Cheryl Fell of Scott has brought a smile to thousands of
hospital patients and healthcare professionals nationwide. She uses
humor with patients, families and co-workers, helping promote a unique
approach to healthcare. Fell's humorous techniques include a clown
persona she created named "Nurse FUNshine." No matter the city, hospital
or crowd, Nurse FUNshine helps improve the quality of life for all
people in and around the healthcare system.
* For seven years Cathy Arends of Prairieville has volunteered at the
women's state prison where she spends time comforting pregnant inmates.
Children born to inmates are taken away at birth, so Arends visits
weekly to help with grief and loss issues the women face. She also
spends time with the women while they are in labor and delivery, because
no visitors are allowed to be present. In addition, Arends created a
memorial, called the Azalea Garden, for babies of inmates that die in
the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.
* Bertha Stoner, a two-time breast cancer survivor from Lake Charles, is a
charter member of the Bosom Buddies breast cancer group and has
co-facilitated the group for ten years. At Bosom Buddies, Stoner
arranges social functions for women struggling with breast cancer and
secures Christmas and Mother's Day gifts for them from local businesses.
Stoner also works for Reach to Recovery, an organization that counsels
cancer patients. She sends cards and makes calls to patients, simply to
remind them they are not alone.
* Wilma Subra, of New Iberia, is a hero to the residents of Diamond, a
community situated along the fence line of a chemical company facility
in Norco. Residents of the community had been plagued for years by
respiratory ailments and high cancer rates. These health hazards were
directly linked to toxic emissions from the nearby plant. In an effort
to urge a major corporation to take responsibility for its
environmentally damaging actions and protect the health of hundreds, she
negotiated a relocation plan on behalf of the residents. The company
paid 300 households above-market prices for their homes and covered the
families' relocation and moving costs. The area is now a buffer zone
between the facility and Norco.
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.