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Lone Tree dad receives award
By Michele Sample
Bill McLeod, Lone Tree resident, was honored on April 28 for his courage and dignity in overcoming loss.
McLeod was selected among 12 other men and women throughout the country to receive the State Farm 2009 Embrace Life Award.
“I was totally shocked,” McLeod said.
A personal friend of his had nominated McLeod, without his knowledge. Out of 300 applications, McLeod was chosen for the Rocky Mountain zone, consisting of New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado and Nevada.
During all-expense paid trip to Bloomington, Ill., State Farm’s headquarters, McLeod was presented with $10,000 and an official Embrace Life Award.
“I was humbled,” McLeod said.
During the awards trip, McLeod and fellow honorees were part of tours, executive red-carpet treatment, social functions and round-table discussions, where the winners offered advice for overcoming different forms of adversity.
“The stories these people shared, losing loved ones or a house, I realized we were all reaching out to our community for support and education,” McLeod said.
McLeod’s personal story is powerful as well, and it exemplifies strength and the undeniable will to move on after a loss.
He and his ex-wife worked together to maintain a stable life for their children, until her untimely death due to alcoholism. She had no life insurance and left McLeod to straighten out her finances and help his children cope with the loss of their mother.
Dealing with being a single dad was a real challenge, McLeod said. He realized there was need and little help dedicated strictly to the single dad, so he set out to create a resource to help those that were facing many of the same issues. Hence, www.singledadstown.com was created.
Single Dad’s Town is a site dedicated to motivating, inspiring and guiding single parents to resources that are essential in order to become successful single parents to their children and to themselves.
McLeod said that the U.S. Census Bureau statistics state that one in four children today are being raised by a single parent.
Because of the lack of life insurance on his ex-wife’s part, he made an effort to educate others about having their financial house in order at all times. His Web site dedicates an entire area to educating others about the need and benefits to life insurance as well as having a sound financial plan in place.
In addition to creating his Web site, McLeod created the Bill McLeod Radio Show heard weekly on the Internet at www.wsradio.com.
“You don’t wake up one morning and become a ‘Dr. Phil’ show,” McLeod said.
He thanks the recognition State Farm has given him and his quest, and realizes how valuable his work is now. His insight, guidance and notable guests continue to help parents embrace life to its fullest. A future radio show will follow the life of a “dead-beat” dad who owes his wife and children almost $60,000 in child support.
State Farm created the awards program in 2004 to raise awareness on how preparing for the future today can help protect families' hopes and dreams for tomorrow.
During the past five years, the Embrace Life Awards has uncovered heroic stories of perseverance and personal sacrifice of people that bettered their families and communities.
McLeod was selected among 12 other men and women throughout the country to receive the State Farm 2009 Embrace Life Award.
“I was totally shocked,” McLeod said.
A personal friend of his had nominated McLeod, without his knowledge. Out of 300 applications, McLeod was chosen for the Rocky Mountain zone, consisting of New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado and Nevada.
During all-expense paid trip to Bloomington, Ill., State Farm’s headquarters, McLeod was presented with $10,000 and an official Embrace Life Award.
“I was humbled,” McLeod said.
During the awards trip, McLeod and fellow honorees were part of tours, executive red-carpet treatment, social functions and round-table discussions, where the winners offered advice for overcoming different forms of adversity.
“The stories these people shared, losing loved ones or a house, I realized we were all reaching out to our community for support and education,” McLeod said.
McLeod’s personal story is powerful as well, and it exemplifies strength and the undeniable will to move on after a loss.
He and his ex-wife worked together to maintain a stable life for their children, until her untimely death due to alcoholism. She had no life insurance and left McLeod to straighten out her finances and help his children cope with the loss of their mother.
Dealing with being a single dad was a real challenge, McLeod said. He realized there was need and little help dedicated strictly to the single dad, so he set out to create a resource to help those that were facing many of the same issues. Hence, www.singledadstown.com was created.
Single Dad’s Town is a site dedicated to motivating, inspiring and guiding single parents to resources that are essential in order to become successful single parents to their children and to themselves.
McLeod said that the U.S. Census Bureau statistics state that one in four children today are being raised by a single parent.
Because of the lack of life insurance on his ex-wife’s part, he made an effort to educate others about having their financial house in order at all times. His Web site dedicates an entire area to educating others about the need and benefits to life insurance as well as having a sound financial plan in place.
In addition to creating his Web site, McLeod created the Bill McLeod Radio Show heard weekly on the Internet at www.wsradio.com.
“You don’t wake up one morning and become a ‘Dr. Phil’ show,” McLeod said.
He thanks the recognition State Farm has given him and his quest, and realizes how valuable his work is now. His insight, guidance and notable guests continue to help parents embrace life to its fullest. A future radio show will follow the life of a “dead-beat” dad who owes his wife and children almost $60,000 in child support.
State Farm created the awards program in 2004 to raise awareness on how preparing for the future today can help protect families' hopes and dreams for tomorrow.
During the past five years, the Embrace Life Awards has uncovered heroic stories of perseverance and personal sacrifice of people that bettered their families and communities.
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