WILMINGTON RESIDENT NAMED
ONE OF NATION'S TOP HOMETOWN HEROES
Monica Caison a finalist in 3rd Annual Volvo for life Awards; for .helping
search for missing loved ones when others have given up
Celebrity Judges - Including Hank Aaron and Paul Newman ??- Will Select and
Announce Winners at March 24 Volvo for Life Awards Ceremony in Times Square;
One Hero Will Receive a Volvo Car for Life

Wilmington, NC (Feb. 10, 2005) ‹ Monica Caison, a Wilmington resident who
who founded the CUE Center for Missing Persons, which provides assistance
for those who have lost a loved one, utilizing media contacts, conducting
foot searches, and going to any length necessary to locate missing persons,
regardless of their age, race, sex and socio-economic background. Monica,
has been named a finalist in a hero recognition program called the Volvo for
Life Awards. She now has the chance to win $50,000 in charitable
contributions and a car for life.
Now in its third year, the Volvo for Life Awards is the largest-ever
national search and celebration of everyday heroes, with Volvo Cars of North
America providing $1 million annually in awards and contributions.
A distinguished panel of judges who are experts on care, conscience and
character ‹ Hank Aaron, Bill Bradley, Caroline Kennedy, Maya Lin, Paul
Newman, Dr. Sally Ride, Eunice Kennedy Shriver ‹ will now review Monica Caison and
the eight other finalists' nominations to select the program's top three
winners in the categories of safety, environment and quality of life.
This year's program, launched June 2004, called for individuals nationwide
to nominate a hometown hero they know at www.volvoforlifeawards.com
in the categories of safety, quality of
life or environment. Volvo received 4,272 nominations representing all 50
states.
About Monica Caison
Exposed to families suffering a missing person three times before the age of
25, Monica Caison decided take action. In 1994, she founded the CUE Center
for Missing Persons, which provides assistance for those who have lost a
loved one, utilizing media contacts, conducting foot searches, and going to
any length necessary to locate missing persons, regardless of their age,
race, sex and socio-economic background. CUE picks up where law enforcement
leaves off. For example, in March 2004, Caison and CUE volunteers conducted
On the Road To Remember, a 25-state tour highlighting 30 missing persons
cases in 10 states. Along the way, the group met more than 70 media
resources and the families who are still looking for their loved one. The
tour resulted in new leads and movement in at least six cases. As a fulltime
volunteer, Caison is driven to help restore the faith in humanity that
family members inevitably lose knowing that someone, somewhere, knows what
happened to their missing loved one.
Volvo will fly the three winners and six remaining finalists to New York to
be honored at Times Square Studios, Ltd., at the Volvo for Life Awards
ceremony on March 24, 2005. At the event, Volvo and program judges will
present each winner with a $50,000 contribution to the charity of his or her
choice. In addition, they will announce the program1s grand winner, who will
receive a new Volvo car every three years for the rest of his or her life
and the distinction of America's Greatest Hometown Hero. The six remaining
finalists will each receive a donation of $25,000 to the charities of their
choice.
Further details of (Monica's) story can be viewed at
www.volvoforlifeawards.com . The other
finalists in the third annual Volvo for Life Awards are:
Safety:
· Abdul Hafiz, a Staten Island, N.Y., junior high student lobbying
politicians to pass a new law requiring special safety gates for fire
escapes.
· Paula Lucas, a domestic abuse survivor in Portland, Ore., helping
American women escape abusive relationships while living abroad.
Quality of Life:
· Hope Bevilhymer, a West Jordan, Utah, amputee who is working to change
U.S. laws that prohibit recycling of prosthetic limbs while at the same time
donating limbs to amputees overseas.
· Jose Morales, Elmhurst, N.Y., who is helping more than 3,100
Spanish-speaking people in Queens, New York recover from substance abuse.
· Jack Orchard, a St. Louis, Mo., ALS patient who is inspiring students
across the nation to help people living with Lou Gehrig1s disease.
Environment:
· Lisa Busch, an Alaskan bringing environmentalists and timber
proponents together to revitalize her community and the environment.
· Bill Maynard, a Sacramento, Calif., engineer growing gardens to
beautify his community and feed low-income residents.
· Robina Suwol, a Van Nuys, Calif., mom advocating for policies to
protect school children from harmful chemicals.

Each year with the Volvo for life Awards, we seek to not only recognize
everyday heroes, but to likewise inspire others to do good in their
communities, said Vic Doolan, president and chief executive officer of
Volvo Cars of North America. While Monica Caison and the other finalists' stories
are unique, they share a passion for creating change within their
communities that will have lasting impacts for generations to come.
The third annual Volvo for life Awards will be hosted by actor Jim Belushi
and will feature musical performances and celebrity appearances. For more
information on the Volvo for life Awards and to view stories of hundreds of
nominees, including this year1s finalists, visit www.volvoforlifeawards.com
<http://www.volvoforlifeawards.com/> .
Barb Lindquist, Haberman & Associates, 612-338-3900
Sören Johansson, Volvo Cars of North America, 949-341-6719,
Media: For photos and more information on the Volvo for Life
Awards: www.volvocars-pr.com.

CUE Center for Missing Persons
228 Eastwood Road A-3 pmb 123
Wilmington, North Carolina 28403
(910) 343-1131 (910) 232-1687
cuecenter@aol.com
http://www.ncmissingpersons.org/
Non-Profit 501c3 Organization