Lake Area United Way (LAUW) is launching its first-ever video contest searching for ordinary people doing extraordinary acts of volunteerism, and it’s calling on the public to tell their inspiring stories.

Indiana University Northwest students, faculty and staff will have an opportunity to nominate their choices for the Everyday Community Heroes contest on Thursday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the Savannah Center. There, LAUW representatives will record video nominations for the awards.

Three $1,500 and three $500 cash prizes will be awarded for the top-judged videos.

Submitted videos should demonstrate how the nominee is changing lives for the better in Northwest Indiana in United Way’s three focus priorities: education, income or financial stability and health - the building blocks everyone needs to live a good, productive life.  Videos can focus on an individual (living or deceased) or a group, corporate team, club or class project.

It’s easy to nominate someone as an Everyday Community Hero.  Self-nominations are welcome. LAUW will have staff present at IU Northwest on Thursday, Dec. 6, to record videos of anyone who wishes to submit a nomination. Self-produced videos also are welcome. Videos should not exceed 90 seconds.

Submissions are due by 11:59 p.m. (CST) on February 3, 2013.  The public can vote on their favorite video online until midnight, February 17. All entries will be judged by a community panel and by popular vote.  

Lake Area United Way’s Everyday Community Heroes video contest is sponsored by: 

•          American Structurepoint

•          BP

•          Citizens Financial Bank

•          Lakeshore Public Television

•          Latitude Commercial Real Estate

For complete contest information, visit:  www.lauwheroes.org.