FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BENJAMIN BRATT SET TO HOST NATIONAL HERO AWARDS CEREMONY

Fourth annual Volvo for life Awards, nation's largest search for hometown heroes, to be held April 12 in New York City's Rainbow Room

View hero stories at www.volvoforlifeawards.com

(NEW YORK) Feb. 10, 2006 'Volvo Cars of North America today announced that actor Benjamin Bratt will host the fourth annual Volvo for life Awards ceremony, an event culminating the nation's largest search for and celebration of hometown heroes in the categories of safety, quality of life and environment. Visit www.volvoforlifeawards.com to read hundreds of hero stories.

The gala Volvo for life Awards ceremony, which also will feature music performed by Avril Lavigne, will be held April 12, 2006 at the Rainbow Room in New York City. At the gathering, Volvo will be joined by celebrity judges such as Hank Aaron, Bill Bradley and Eunice Kennedy Shriver to honor the three category winners with $50,000 in charitable contributions and documentaries sharing their stories. One winner will be named “America's Greatest Hometown Hero'and presented with a Volvo car every three years for life.

Led by Volvo Cars of North America, the fourth annual initiative celebrates and rewards local heroes with $1 million in financial contributions. Over the past four years, more than 13,000 other local heroes have been nominated for a Volvo for life Award across the United States. View hundreds of hero stories by logging on to www.volvoforlifeawards.com.

Star of the NBC-TV drama “E-Ring,'Bratt established himself on television playing Detective Reynaldo Curtis on the critically acclaimed "Law & Order" series. As a regular for four seasons, he received an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 1999.

Bratt's career includes standout film performances including 2001's "Piñero," which traced the life of artist Miguel Piñero, the controversial New York figure whose urban poetry is recognized as a precursor to rap and hip-hop. Bratt's feature-film screen credits also include "Traffic," "Abandon," "Miss Congeniality," "Red Planet," "The Next Best Thing," "Catwoman," "The River Wild," "Clear And Present Danger" and "Blood In, Blood Out."

“Volvo Cars of North America is proud to have Benjamin Bratt host our Volvo for life Awards ceremony,'said Anne Bélec, president and chief executive officer of Volvo Cars of North America. “The event is a phenomenal gathering of our nation's most heroic individuals and his dynamic presence will raise the event to an exciting new level.'

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.

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Contact:

Kim McMartin,

Haberman & Associates,

612-372-6464,

kim@modernstorytellers.com.

Sören Johansson,

Volvo Cars of North America,

949-341-6719,

sjohan44@volvocars.com.

Media:

For photos and more information on the Volvo for life Awards:

http://www.volvocars-pr.com