Ridge Global LLC

June 5, 2008 - Tom Ridge received a standing ovation after accepting The Patriot Award at the American Security Challenge awards ceremony, held today at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC.

"I’m grateful to the American Security Challenge for this award and for the great work they do," the Ridge Global CEO and first secretary of Homeland Security said after the event. "The innovation and creativity necessary to secure our nation comes from our innovators and entrepreneurs, and I am honored that they count me among them.”

The Patriot Award is bestowed on someone who has defended the United States with integrity, steadfast patriotism, effectiveness and ingenuity. The recipient is deemed by his or her peers to have successfully confronted national threats to protect American citizens and secure the American way of life.

The objective of the American Security Challenge is to increase the visibility of innovative technology and help it reach the marketplace faster so that it can protect our citizens and critical assets. Each year the Challenge reaches out to universities, incubators, entrepreneurs, researcher labs, early stage investors and other networks and invites them to submit an executive summary of their concept. The 25 best executive summaries are then invited to submit a full business plan, from which six finalists are chosen to present their plans at the ASC event.

This year's winner, TeleContinuity, received $100,000 in prize money and national exposure before members of the homeland security and technology communities.