For Immediate Release
August 29, 2008  

U.S. BANK DONATES $500 TO
SPECIAL OLYMPICS MONTANA / CMR AREA TO HONOR FIVE-STAR VOLUNTEER, KELLY LAWSON

(Great Falls, Montana) – U.S. Bank has selected the most recent recipients of the U.S. Bank Five Star Volunteer Award, which honors employees for their exceptional volunteer service in the community this year. To recognize the 136 outstanding volunteers located in 25 states, U.S. Bank will contribute a total of $100,000 to nonprofit organizations in their honor.

U.S. Bank employee Kelly Lawson, Great Falls, is one of this year’s recipients. In her honor, a $500 donation from US Bank goes to the Special Olympics Montana CMR Area. Lawson, who has been inspired by her daughter’s growth in the program, has been involved in Special Olympics for more than 12 years. She is an active volunteer who gives time unselfishly to planning, goal-setting, organization of events, coaching and more. Her pivotal role in the organization is that of the CM Russell Area Director where, as a volunteer, she leads an extensive team of management-level volunteers to stage Special Olympics program throughout a five-county area. With more than 250 athletes and the volunteer and coach support required for their meaningful involvement, Lawson is on the scene to plan and organize area winter and spring games or competition events; to motivate volunteers who conduct extensive fundraising projects; and to encourage volunteers to acquire the training they need.

Recipients of the U.S. Bank Five Star Volunteer Award were chosen based on criteria such as community impact and depth of volunteer service. Nominations for the Five Star Volunteer Award were submitted by employees, coworkers and the organizations where U.S. Bank employees volunteer.

“Volunteerism plays a crucial role in the overall success of our communities,” said Deborah Burke, director of the U.S. Bancorp Foundation. “U.S. Bancorp employees throughout the country donate their time and talents to local organizations that are important to them, and we’re pleased to honor these 136 employees in particular who have demonstrated some of the most noteworthy achievements through their volunteer efforts.”

In addition to the Five Star Volunteer Award, U.S. Bancorp also encourages its employees to volunteer through its Five Star Volunteer Day program. Introduced this year, Five Star Volunteer Day gives all eligible U.S. Bancorp employees 8 hours of paid time off each year to volunteer in their community at organizations such as nonprofit or civic agencies and schools.

U.S. Bancorp has a long-standing record of community leadership in the key areas of affordable housing, economic opportunity, arts and culture, education and community service. The company received the highest rating possible for the Office of the Comptroller of Currency in 2006, the most recent evaluation period, for its commitment to the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), meeting the credit needs of all segments of the communities that U.S. Bancorp serves.

U.S. Bancorp, with $247 billion in assets, is the parent company of U.S. Bank, the 6th largest commercial bank in the United States. The company operates 2,542 banking offices and 4,895 ATMs, and provides a comprehensive line of banking, brokerage, insurance, investment, mortgage, trust and payment services products to consumers, businesses and institutions. Visit U.S. Bancorp on the web at www.usbank.com.

About Special Olympics
Special Olympics is an international organization that changes lives by promoting understanding, acceptance and inclusion between people with and without intellectual disabilities. Through year-round sports training and athletic competition and other related programming for 1.4 million children and adults with intellectual disabilities in more than 150 countries, Special Olympics has created a model community that celebrates people's diverse gifts. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to realize their potential, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy and friendship. There is no cost to participate in Special Olympics.

Contact:  Vicki Dunham
vdunham@somt.org

Special Olympics Montana
P.O. Box 3507
Great Falls, MT  59403
406.216.5327 Ext. 116