KING CARNEY: KMOX-AM (1120) nighttime talkman, John Carney, says he is surprised and flattered that he's been nominated as a "Jewish Community Hero."

"Ain't this something?," Carney asked in an e-mail he sent this colyumnist today. "And I'm only 1/4 tribe to boot!," he added, referring to his having a parent who was half Jewish.

Carney says he is soliciting votes for the online competition because it could result in a $25,000 contribution for a non-profit agency that he founded, "Carney's Kids Foundation."

Carney notes that he is the only representative from St. Louis involved in the competition so far. This is the second annual Jewish Community Heroes campaign. The campaigns are organized by The Jewish Federations of North America.

Andy Neusner, a St. Louis native who is manager of the Jewish Community Heroes program for the New York-based federation, said the competition is not aimed exclusively at people who are Jewish by birth.

"We're certainly being as inclusive as we can," he added. Neusner said the federation wants nominees to be people who are helping others and making a contribution to their communities.

Carney is among 170 nominees so far, Neusner said. The nominee process ends Sept. 17 and voting ends Oct. 8. So far, more than 66,000 votes have been cast.