Robert Young, executive director of Red Feather Development Group (RFDG) in Bozeman, Montana, was recently named America's Greatest Hometown Hero in the first annual Volvo for Life Awards. The award program, sponsored by Volvo Cars of North America, recognizes everyday heroes who help people in need. In addition to a one-time grant package totaling $60,000, Volvo will award Young a new car every three years for the rest of his life.
Young established RFDG in 1995 to improve living conditions on Native American reservations, where thousands of people are homeless or live in overcrowded, substandard housing. The organization teaches reservation residents to build affordable, energy-efficient homes out of straw bales. Since 1995, RFDG has completed a total of 37 building projects in Washington, Montana and the Dakotas. Current projects include the development of a straw-bale environmental research facility at Turtle Mountain Community College on North Dakota's Turtle Mountain Reservation.
For more information on RFDG, visit www.redfeather.org or call (406) 585-7188.
