12.15.2005 ET

(CSRwire) NEW YORK - Do you know a hero -- someone in your community seeking to improve the safety, quality of life and/or environment of others? If you do, you have one month left to nominate that person for the Volvo for life Awards -- the nation's largest annual search for and celebration of everyday heroes.

Volvo Cars of North America leads the national initiative, honoring and rewarding local heroes with $1 million in financial contributions. The top hometown hero will win a Volvo car for life. To nominate someone you know, visit www.volvoforlifeawards.com through Jan. 15, 2006.

Now in its fourth year, the Volvo for life Awards seeks ordinary people who are doing extraordinary things. Since its inception in 2001, Volvo has received nearly 10,000 nominations from all 50 states. This year's nominees include a Santa Clarita, Calif. woman who founded a special camp for children infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS; a Farmersville, Texas man working to improve the cooking and heating conditions in Guatemala; and a high school student from Silver Spring, Md. creating a suicide prevention movement in his community.

In March 2006, Volvo will announce the names of 100 semi-finalists and honor their individual accomplishments with a Certificate of Merit. Three finalists in each nomination category will then be selected.

A panel of distinguished judges representing some of the world's foremost experts on conscience, care and character -- including Hank Aaron, Bill Bradley, Richard Branson, Caroline Kennedy, Maya Lin, Paul Newman, Sally Ride, Eunice Kennedy Shriver and last year's top winner, Hope Bevilhymer -- will name one winner for each of the three categories. The category winners each will receive $50,000 to be donated to the charities of their choice. The remaining six finalists each will receive a $25,000 charitable donation.

On April 12, 2006, Volvo will honor the three category winners at the Volvo for life Awards Ceremony in New York City. Each year the event features top music entertainment and a celebrity host, as well as documentaries profiling the category winners. The grand award winner, selected by the judges, will be named "America's Greatest Hometown Hero" and presented with a Volvo car every three years for the rest of his or her life.

To learn more or to nominate a hero, visit www.volvoforlifeawards.com. A Spanish version of the site can also be accessed at this address.

Media: For photos and more information on the Volvo for Life Awards: www.volvocars-pr.com.

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