Local Doctors Create Idaho Award

Some hometown heroes became the first winners of a new award in Pocatello Friday.

Fahim and Naeem Rahim decided to create the Idaho’s Hometown Hero medals to honor local people working to do some real good.

“We’re honored and humbled to celebrate Idaho’s finest. There’s a lot more good out there then evil. We decided we need to recognize the goodness in the people around us,? Fahim said.

These first winners included Sen. Mike Crapo, mountain biking champion Rebecca Rusch, Bank of Idaho President and CEO Park Price, Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center CEO Doug Crabtree and CEO of Melaleuca CEO Frank VanderSloot.

An honorary award was accepted by the parents of Sgt. Blake Stephens, the first soldier from Pocatello killed in Iraq.

“There are so many great and wonderful people in the state of Idaho, so many deserving people doing so many things that I wouldn’t know how you would choose somebody over somebody else,? VanderSloot said.

The winners received a medal designed by a local artist, showing the Statue of Liberty alongside the state of Idaho.

The Rahim’s felt the desire to create this award after they received the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor a few months ago in New York.

“The recognition of the fact that there are so many more people out there who are doing such a wonderful job in this great state has made us come to this conclusion that we have to do something for the state,? Naeem said.

The Rahim brothers said they hope recognizing local heroes will inspire others to do good.

“These are trying times for all of us, but I think that if at this point we take time and recognize and look for the good in us and the good that surrounds us, that will inspire us to get out of this struggle and do more,? Fahim said.

In upcoming years people will be able to nominate those they feel are deserving online, but the website hasn’t yet been created.