Lake Zurich Resident Named General Motors Our Town, Our Heroes Winner

Lake Zurich resident Megan McDowell has been named the winner of the General Motors’ Our Town, Our Heroes program in a special round honoring Illinois military supporters! Due to her work with the Family Readiness Group (FRG) for the 16th Psychological Operations Battalion in Fort Sheridan, Illinois, and for her ongoing support of the military, McDowell received more than half of the votes cast onDrivingtheMidwest.com.Both McDowell and her nominator, Carrie Gowans, will receive a one-week loan of an all-new Chevrolet vehicle. In addition, McDowell will receive a $500 gift card with the challenge to keep driving positive change in her community.

In her nomination, Gowans describes McDowell as a proud military supporter and a wonderful wife and mother.

 “Through her work with the FRG, Megan held fundraisers and welcome home receptions for Illinois military servicemen and women. She also supported the families in her FRG by sending boxes to every soldier in the unit while deployed,” wrote Gowans in her nomination. “Megan understands military life, as her husband, Steve McDowell,served our country during two deployments with the United States Army. She continues to support the military and is currently organizing a race to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.”

Submissions for the next round of the Our Town, Our Heroes program are currently being accepted on DrivingtheMidwest.com. General Motors launched the program in 2011 to recognize and reward unsung heroes who inspire and empower others in their local community. Every month, the program will narrow down the nominations and open voting of the featured finalists to the public to select the winner.

“We continue to be blown away by the extraordinary stories of heroes from across Illinois like Megan,” said Brian Goebel, General Motors North Central Region Communications Manager. “Chevrolet is proud to support the United States Military and we’re honored to award hometown heroes making a difference in their military community.”

To read Gowans’ winning nomination of McDowell and the stories of the other finalists, or to nominate your local hero, visit DrivingtheMidwest.com.