New York Auto Show

Volvo honors good deeds with emotional event

John McCormick / Autos Insider
April 13, 2006

NEW YORK - The conscience of the auto industry was movingly and uniquely on display at the Volvo for Life Awards ceremony in New York.

Now in its fourth year, the awards program by Ford's Swedish premium brand celebrates and rewards everyday people in the U.S., whose extraordinary efforts to help others deserve special recognition.

This year the grand award went to renowned Detroit heart surgeon Ingida Asfaw, a doctor at Sinai Grace hospital, whose charitable medical work in his native Ethiopia earned him the attention of the Volvo judges. The panel, including celebrities Caroline Kennedy, Val Kilmer, Sir Richard Branson, Paul Newman and Dr. Sally Ride, also picked two other candidates from 4,300 nominations for awards; a Chicago doctor whose unusual crime prevention efforts have been highly successful and a California environmentalist fighting against industrial pollution.

In each case, the award winners received a $50,000 check from Volvo for their charity of choice. Dr. Asfaw also was given use of a Volvo for life. He pledged his check would go to establishing a child care clinic in Ethiopia, a country where there is only one doctor per 100,000 inhabitants.

"It has been my lifelong dream to return to Ethiopia to use my medical skills for people who are less fortunate,” said Asfaw.

Anne Belec, president and CEO of Volvo Cars of North America, said: “We are proud to recognize people whose selfless actions make the world a better place.”

John McCormick is a columnist for Autos Insider and can be reached at john.mccormick@detnews.com