Bypassing everyone from movie stars to rock stars and sports stars to superstars, at least one local charity event will honor a few of Utah's more ordinary heroes.
Or at least those found a little closer to home.
In addition to honoring five outstanding local businessmen as part of the annual Father of the Year banquet on June 5, the Father's Day Council-Utah has given fifth-graders a chance to recognize their dads as heroes. Elliot Frei, an 11-year-old from Salt Lake City, and Emma Lee Bodell, a 10-year-old from Sandy, were named winners of the My Dad is a Hero contest Thursday.
"Combining the My Dad is a Hero contest with the Father of the Year event is the perfect match," said Tom Bullock, chairman of the Father's Day Council-Utah. "While we are honoring five local businessmen for their efforts as parents and community leaders, these kids have an opportunity to praise someone special in their life."
The contest, created last year by the Father's Day Council, invited 10- and 11-year-olds throughout the state to submit a short essay explaining why their father, grandfather, uncle or brother is a hero. More than 300 students submitted essays, which were then judged by about 40 volunteer readers, Julie Rose, events manger of the American Diabetes Association, said. The two winners will read their essays at the awards dinner.
"The difficult part of the contest is determining the winner of the essay contest," said Bullock. "The stories the children submit about their hero are all so touching. You know the kids are already winners just by having their hero in their life."
All contest entrants will receive a "hero passport," which provides two free passes to various summer entertainment venues.
The five outstanding local businessmen to be honored are John M.R. Covey, Robert Heiner Garff, Mark Heugly, Lowell L. Leishman and Clark Stringham. They were chosen because of their community involvement and ability to touch their children's lives, Rose said.
Proceeds from the banquet and fund-raising effort will be used for awareness programs and research to find a cure for diabetes.
E-mail: enelson@desnews.com