November 15, 2007
Wichita Native Named National Hero
Wichita, Kan. (Nov. 15) –– A Wichita man received “Heroes In Our Midst” award today for his extraordinary commitment to connecting with youth in need in his community and for the role he plays in making a positive impact in the lives of others.
Heroes In Our Midst, a national recognition program of the Greeting Card Association, named Richard Ridder, 32, a national hero during a ceremony at the Big Brothers Big Sisters Thanksgiving Dinner. For five years, Ridder, a district manager of Sam Adams, has devoted himself to making a difference in the life of his now fourteen-year-old Little, Loren, through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Sedgwick County.
Heroes In Our Midst honors everyday heroes who give of themselves to connect with others to show they care, and encourages Americans to send cards to the heroes in their own lives. Since its launch last year, Heroes In Our Midst has generated thousands of cards for community and personal heroes.
“We give communities an opportunity to express their gratitude to local heroes,” said Chris Bouchard, the national spokesman of Heroes In Our Midst. “Volunteers like Rich deserve recognition, and we hope that today’s presentation has inspired people to convey their appreciation to Rich and to the heroes in their lives.”
In addition to spending one or two days with Loren every week, Ridder, the 2006 Big of the Year, also volunteers with Pass It On, an outdoor recreation program for at-risk children who do not have Big Brothers Big Sisters matches.
“Rich is my hero because he turned my life around,” Loren said. “He was the main one to help me through hard times. He has never let me down. He is always pushing me and telling me never give up in life.”
Together, Ridder and Loren fish, hike, camp, play sports, and do Loren’s homework. Since they met, Ridder has helped Loren significantly improve his grades in school. “To me, he is teaching Loren more than day to day things,” said Loren’s grandmother and guardian. “He teaches him life lessons and shows him a better way to live.”
At the ceremony, Bouchard, Loren, and Mark Eby, Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Sedgwick County, presented Ridder with the bronze hero medallion and greeting cards from grateful members of the community.
Heroes In Our Midst and Big Brothers Big Sisters are asking the Wichita community to send cards or notes expressing their thanks to Ridder, as well as cards to the heroes in their own lives. Cards for Ridder should be addressed to:
Rich Ridder
c/o Big Brothers Big Sisters of Sedgwick County
310 East Second Street
Wichita, Kansas 67201
“Heroes In Our Midst is all about the rewards of connecting with others and building human ties,” said Bouchard. “Greeting cards are a cherished tradition for connecting and showing that you care about others. People everywhere have a special story of how someone impacted their life or created a shared memory through a greeting card.”
At the ceremony, the Heroes In Our Midst program said a check for $1,000 would be donated in Ridder’s name to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Sedgwick County to support the efforts of volunteers like Ridder who are reaching out to connect with others in their community and make such significant impacts on the lives of local children.
To learn more about Heroes In Our Midst, visit www.HeroesInOurMidst.org.
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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.
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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.