Volvo for Life Awards
February 17, 2005 (Press Release) --
February 16, 2005 — By California Safe Schools
Robina Suwol named a finalist in the Third Annual Volvo for life Award for advocating policies to protect school children from harmful chemicals
VAN NUYS, Calif. — Robina Suwol, a Van Nuys mother, who after seeing her children enter their school through a toxic cloud of pesticide spray, created California Safe Schools, an organization that put in place the most stringent pesticide policy in the nation for schools, has been named a finalist in the Third Annual Volvo for life Awards. As a finalist, she is guaranteed to receive a $25,000 charitable contribution, with a chance to receive a $50,000 donation and a Volvo every three years for life.
The Volvo for life Awards is the nation's largest search for and celebration of everyday heroes, with Volvo Cars of North America providing $1 million annually in awards and contributions.
The distinguished judges' panel, including the 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 Suwol and eight other finalists to select the program's top three winners in the categories of safety, environment and quality of life.
In 1998, Robina watched her sons walk through a white cloud near the entrance of their school, where the school gardener, dressed in full protective gear, was spraying pesticide. Suwol's youngest son had a severe asthma attack, causing Suwol to take action. She quickly contacted medical experts, environmentalists, scientists and experts to learn more about safer, more effective methods of using of chemicals around school children. She presented her findings to the Los Angeles Unified School District, and with full support, she brought together parents, physicians, environmentalists and the county health department, among other stakeholders, to form California Safe Schools.
The organization persuaded the school district -- the second largest in the country -- to adopt the "most stringent school pesticide policy in the nation." The policy was the first in the United States to embrace the "precautionary principle" and "Parents' Right to Know" about chemicals being used in or around school campuses. The policy has benefited the nearly one million students, 60,000 teachers and thousands of staff members in the district, as well as the health and well- being of all Californians. In fact, the policy led to the California Healthy Schools Act of 2000, which recommends school districts develop Integrated Pest Management Policies. And today, the policy is being replicated nationally.
This year's Volvo program, launched in June 2004, called for individuals nationwide to nominate a hometown hero at www.volvoforlifeawards.com . Volvo received 4,272 nominations representing all 50 states.
Contact: Carol Schuler, Haberman & Associates, 612-338-3900, carol@habermaninc.com.
Robina Suwol named a finalist in the Third Annual Volvo for life Award for advocating policies to protect school children from harmful chemicals
VAN NUYS, Calif. — Robina Suwol, a Van Nuys mother, who after seeing her children enter their school through a toxic cloud of pesticide spray, created California Safe Schools, an organization that put in place the most stringent pesticide policy in the nation for schools, has been named a finalist in the Third Annual Volvo for life Awards. As a finalist, she is guaranteed to receive a $25,000 charitable contribution, with a chance to receive a $50,000 donation and a Volvo every three years for life.
The Volvo for life Awards is the nation's largest search for and celebration of everyday heroes, with Volvo Cars of North America providing $1 million annually in awards and contributions.
The distinguished judges' panel, including the 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 Suwol and eight other finalists to select the program's top three winners in the categories of safety, environment and quality of life.
In 1998, Robina watched her sons walk through a white cloud near the entrance of their school, where the school gardener, dressed in full protective gear, was spraying pesticide. Suwol's youngest son had a severe asthma attack, causing Suwol to take action. She quickly contacted medical experts, environmentalists, scientists and experts to learn more about safer, more effective methods of using of chemicals around school children. She presented her findings to the Los Angeles Unified School District, and with full support, she brought together parents, physicians, environmentalists and the county health department, among other stakeholders, to form California Safe Schools.
The organization persuaded the school district -- the second largest in the country -- to adopt the "most stringent school pesticide policy in the nation." The policy was the first in the United States to embrace the "precautionary principle" and "Parents' Right to Know" about chemicals being used in or around school campuses. The policy has benefited the nearly one million students, 60,000 teachers and thousands of staff members in the district, as well as the health and well- being of all Californians. In fact, the policy led to the California Healthy Schools Act of 2000, which recommends school districts develop Integrated Pest Management Policies. And today, the policy is being replicated nationally.
This year's Volvo program, launched in June 2004, called for individuals nationwide to nominate a hometown hero at www.volvoforlifeawards.com . Volvo received 4,272 nominations representing all 50 states.
Contact: Carol Schuler, Haberman & Associates, 612-338-3900, carol@habermaninc.com.
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