GANDER, NL – An award that lists Stephen Spielberg, Tom Cruise, Christopher Reeve and U.S President Jimmy Carter among it past recipients will be presented to the Town of Gander tonight (Jan. 18).
Mayor Percy Farwell is currently in Cleveland, Ohio to accept the Values-in-Action Foundation’s Rescuer of Humanity award. It’s the first time a municipality has been selected to receive the foundation's most prominent and internationally acclaimed award.
The award recognizes individuals who have committed themselves to improving humanity and inspire others to make a positive difference in their own lives, as well as those of others.
The U.S. based, non-profit foundation has previously stated the effort put forward by the people of Gander and surrounding area in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States aligns with those values.
"The awesome community effort of Gander during the 9-11 tragedy, prompting a chain reaction of simultaneous acts of kindness to those who were stranded, was nothing short of amazing and inspiring," foundation president and CEO Stuart Muszynski stated in his initial letter to the town. "If others would only follow Gander's example, the world would be a significantly better place."