St. Paul, MN – A Minneapolis native who reached out to a young boy from north Minneapolis through Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS), was honored today as a national Hero In Our Midst.

     Ron Hunter, an executive at Cargill Incorporated, who grew up in north Minneapolis, received a bronze Heroes in our Midst medallion and a ceremonial check for $1,000 to be donated in his name to BBBS of the Greater Twin Cities to support the efforts of others like Hunter who are giving back to their communities.

     Heroes In Our Midst is a nationwide initiative designed to recognize the everyday heroes of America’s communities, who are reaching out to make a positive impact in the lives of others, while inspiring citizens to follow their example. The program encourages Minnesotan’s and American’s everywhere to honor everyday heroes, like Ron, by sending cards or notes of thanks to him. Cards should be addressed to:

          Ron Hunter
          Heroes In Our Midst
          2550 University Avenue- #410N
          St. Paul, Minnesota 55114

     Hunter’s “Little Brother” Rashad Samuels, an eighth grader at Lincoln Community School in Minneapolis, looked on as Hunter received the award before his mentoring colleagues, co-workers and well-wishers, including Greg Page, Cargill’s president and chief operating officer, at a news conference held at the BBBS of the Greater Twin Cities agency in St. Paul. Samuels encouraged the public to send a greeting card or note of appreciation to Hunter for connecting with him as his “Big Brother” and being a positive male role model in his life.

     Campaign officials say they hope area residents will be inspired not only to send a card or note to Hunter, but that they will become everyday heroes themselves, by reaching out to others through this type of personal interaction and caring that brings people together.

     Hunter is the third individual honored in 2006 by the new Heroes In Our Midst program and has also recently been honored as the Community Big Brother of the Year by BBBS. To learn more about the campaign and its goal of recognizing America’s everyday heroes and encouraging others to make one-to-one connections that help bring individuals and communities together, visit www.HeroesInOurMidst.org.

Heroes In Our Midst is an initiative of the Greeting Card Association in partnership with BBBS of America.

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Big Brothers Big Sisters is the oldest, largest and most effective youth mentoring organization in the U.S. It has been the leader in one-to-one youth service for more than a century, developing positive relationships that have a direct and lasting impact of the lives of young people. Big Brothers Big Sisters serves 240,000 children, ages 6 through 18, in all 50 states. The national offices are located in Philadelphia. To volunteer or donate, visit www.bbbsa.org.

The Greeting Card Association, headquartered in Washington, DC, represents nearly 300 U.S. and international greeting card publishers and suppliers. It is dedicated to celebrating, promoting and preserving the tradition and cultural values of exchanging greeting cards.