ST. LOUIS (March 14, 2011) - It's not often that a community is fortunate enough to have a citizen with the energy and determination to make a positive difference, but the Quad Cities area is just that lucky. Sarah Cronk of Bettendorf, Iowa is being honored for her unstoppable energy and for her commitment to making a positive impact. In January, baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr. and Energizer began a national search for the next member of the Energizer Keep Going® Hall of Fame, a program dedicated to celebrating everyday people who possess the same persevering spirit as the Energizer Bunny® and use that determination to make a difference. From all of the submissions received, Cronk's nomination rose to the top. She is now one of 100 Semifinalists in the running to become the 2011 Inductee into the Energizer Keep Going® Hall of Fame.
As the younger sister of a brother with special needs, Sarah Cronk knows firsthand how much students with disabilities yearn to fit in. With her brother as her inspiration, Sarah helped form the Spartan Sparkles, the nation's first high school-based cheerleading squad to include students with disabilities. But she didn't stop there, since then, she has also started The Sparkle Effect Inc., which provides grants for uniforms and free on-site training to new inclusive squads nationwide. As a result of these programs, students with disabilities experience true acceptance and gain confidence as high school students inspire entire communities to open their minds and hearts in the spirit of inclusion.
Everyone has the power to make a positive impact, so the Energizer Keep Going® Hall of Fame was created to honor unstoppable people making a difference, like Cronk, in the hope that their stories will inspire others to do the same. Baseball's Ironman, Cal Ripken, Jr., who holds the record for the most-consecutive games ever played (2,632), was the inaugural inductee in 2006. In January, Ripken and Energizer launched the sixth annual search for everyday people doing extraordinary things. Nominations poured in with inspirational stories of friends, family members, neighbors, teachers and coworkers who greet every day with a spirit of optimism and determination, all while making the world a better place to live.
"We're always so inspired by stories of people who live with the spirit of the Energizer Bunny® and then use that energy to make the world a better place" said Jim Olsen, Vice President of Marketing for Energizer North America. "We're thrilled with this year's 100 Semifinalists, who truly embody that spirit and turn it into something positive for their communities. Now That's PositivenergyTM"
Cronk now moves on to the second round of judging, during which judges will narrow the 100 Semifinalists down to a pool of nine Finalists. Energizer Bunny® Facebook fans will have the opportunity to select the 10th Finalist by voting for their favorite Semifinalist on www.facebook.com/energizerbunny beginning March 17, 2011 and ending March 25, 2011. Each of the 10 Finalists will receive a $1,000 donation to a charity of his or her choice.
And the Inductee Is ...
Then, it's up to America to determine the 2011 Inductee by voting for their favorite of the 10 Finalists at www.energizer.com/halloffame. Voting begins April 4, 2011 and extends through May 14, 2011. Each Finalist vote will trigger a $1.00 donation from Energizer to the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, up to $10,000. The donations will help connect kids in distressed communities with mentors, giving them the opportunity to learn life's critical lessons while having fun on the fields and off the streets. Now That's Positivenergy™
The 2011 Inductee will receive a $10,000 cash prize plus a $5,000 donation to his or her favorite charity. That person will also be formally honored at an induction ceremony with Cal Ripken, Jr. in June at the Energizer Keep Going® Hall of Fame in St. Louis, Mo.
To read more about the Energizer Keep Going® Hall of Fame, past honorees and current Semifinalists, visit www.energizer.com/halloffame or www.facebook.com/EnergizerBunny.
