Winner of Jon Bon Jovi’s CIRCLE OF CHANGE AWARD chosen

From bonjovi.com

Jon personally presented the trophy and $10,000 to the winner

The winner of the first Circle Of Change Award has officially been chosen: Daniella Groothuis from Germany!

Last week Groothuis came to the States to meet Jon, who personally awarded her with the Circle Of Change Award trophy and $10,000!

Inspired by the incredible atmosphere at Brandenburg Gate and the feeling of solidarity among Germans in general, Jon Bon Jovi initiated the Circle Of Change Award last month to award it to a German citizen who has shown exceptional dedication to the community in 2009. Supported by German TV program “Sat 1 Frühstücksfernsehen,” countless citizens were nominated on www.BonJovi.de between November 27 and December 2, and Jon eventually chose Daniella Groothuis (40) who has been working on a project called “Benefit & Joy” with the German bonjovi.de community since 2007 to raise money for a housing project.

“Everybody is a part of this bigger thing that we live in, it is the continuum. We are here in this world for a short period of time and we are here to make a change. The status quo just isn’t good enough. The government can’t do it alone, the private sector can’t do it alone but it takes strong people from different walks of life to all come together with a common cause and just to help each other. Strong people like Daniella want to be part of something bigger,” Jon said after handing the trophy to the winner.

The launch of the singer’s own Circle Of Change Award picks up on the message of Bon Jovi’s current album “The Circle” that also features the hit-single “We Weren’t Born To Follow”: With a lyric such as “you got to stand up for what you believe” the band makes a clear statement for moral courage.

Inspired by Jon, who has been running his own Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation to help break the cycle of poverty and homelessness, Groothuis will use the prize money for her “Benefit & Joy” project. While Jon’s Foundation’s motto is “one Soul at a time,” the winner came up with “Who Says You Can’t Go Home.” Furthermore she will not only actively take part in building houses but is also going to work with Habitat For Humanity, just like Jon has in the past.

Bon Jovi has set the bar for more than two decades as one of the most successful rock bands in the world. Globally, they have sold more than 120 million albums and performed more than 2,600 concerts in over 50 countries for more than 34 million fans. “The Circle” album was just released and debuted at #1 in Germany and around the world. Bon Jovi’s “Lost Highway” tour topped the Billboard’s Tour Chart as the No. 1 Tour in the world in 2008.

~ Hath