'Hero' Nominations Now Being Accepted

Sept. 23, 2011

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IOWA CITY, Iowa — Who’s your hero?

Do you know someone who has performed an extraordinary act of courage or dedicated countless hours to a special cause? The University of Iowa, University of Nebraska, the Iowa and Nebraska chapters of the American Red Cross, and Hy-Vee are looking for the common citizens, the unheralded and unselfish pillars of our community.

One hero from both Iowa and Nebraska will be honored in front of a soldout crowd at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb., when the Iowa Hawkeyes and Nebraska Cornhuskers play the inaugural Heroes Game presented by Hy-Vee on Friday, Nov.25.

“Given the fact that the game will be played the day after Thanksgiving, I can’t think of a better way to salute all citizens of ours two states by honoring two `Citizen Heroes’ who have truly gone above and beyond. We also hope that we receive hundreds if not thousands of nominations because no good deed is too small,” said Gary Barta, director of athletics at the University of Iowa.

“We believe that the people of Iowa and the people of Nebraska are very much alike in many ways. Both believe in an honest day’s work, the importance of community and family, and both love college football and their football heroes. We also know there are citizens of our states doing exceptional things every day and we think they are deserving of some recognition and we look forward to using this game to do that,” said Tom Osborne, director of athletics at the University of Nebraska.

A nominee must be at least 18 years of age and live, work or go to school in either Iowa or Nebraska. However, the act of heroism or good deed need not have occurred in either state.

One person from both Iowa and Nebraska will be selected to represent each state at the Heroes Game. They will receive four tickets to the football game, participate in an on-field presentation, and have their name and hometown inscribed on the Heroes Game trophy. “With the Heroes Game, Hy-Vee has a truly unique opportunity to sponsor two legendary football programs and what we believe will be the new classic post-Thanksgiving rivalry game,” Edeker said. “We also have the opportunity to use this great new rivalry to recognize some incredible people doing incredible good throughout the heartland.”

Nominations will be accepted from Sept. 23 to Oct. 31. Nomination forms, rules, and further information can be found online by clicking HERE or may be picked up at Hy-Vee store locations in Iowa and Nebraska.

Nominations may also be mailed to the American Red Cross Des Moines office, 2116 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA 50312, or faxed to (515) 244-8012 by midnight on October 31, 2011. Nominations not recognized at the Heroes Game will be considered for recognition at the American Red Cross Heroes of the Heartland events in selected Iowa and Nebraska cities and towns in March 2012.

Fans can support the spirit of heroism in their community, by donating to the American Red Cross. They can text ¯”IOWA” or ¯ “NEBRASKA” to 90999 to donate $10 today. Message and data rates may apply. Go to hyvee.com to learn more. The text campaign will run from Sept. 23 to Nov. 25. 2011.

About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation’s blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/mobile/ or join our blog at blog.redcross.org.