Ford to Donate $250,000 to Detroit Branch NAACP Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner

    DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 1 Ford Motor Company will
donate an unprecedented $250,000 to the 46th annual Detroit event.  Jacques
Nasser, CEO & President, Ford Motor Company, will serve as General Chair of
this year's dinner.
    Detroit's branch of the National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People (NAACP) touts the largest membership within the national
organization.  The dinner is famously known as the largest sit-down dinner of
its kind in the world and will again be held at Cobo Arena, downtown Detroit.
This year's theme for the annual dinner is "Preserving the right to vote."
    "I am honored to serve as the General Chair for this year's Fight for
Freedom Fund Dinner.  As a businessperson, I know that working to ensure that
every voice is heard is not only the right thing to do, it's the best thing to
do to create a better future for us all," said Jacques Nasser, CEO &
President, Ford Motor Company.  "We at Ford Motor Company believe that
socially responsible companies must be actively involved in making the world a
better place."
    The announcement, made at the "Passing the Gavel" ceremony, held at the
Roostertail, for major fundraisers, is yet another example of Ford's
commitment to Detroit.  Ford's partnership with the NAACP spans over 25 years
and totals over $2 million with much of the donations stemming from Ford's
philanthropic unit, Ford Motor Company Fund.  Last year, Ford sponsored the
NAACP Youth Freedom Fund Dinner Dance at the organization's national
convention.
    Ford has also contributed to the Fair Share dinner, golf outings,
educational outreach and other youth-focused programs.  Ford has supported the
Fight For Freedom Fund dinner for over a decade, as well as the local
branches, regional branches, conferences and campaigns.
    "We are quite pleased with the growing partnership with Ford Motor Company
and Detroit Branch NAACP.  Ford Motor Company, which has its roots in Detroit,
serves as a unique model in which diversity of people and investment in
emerging domestic markets within our cities should be the rule and not the
exception," said Rev. Wendell Anthony, President, Detroit Branch NAACP.
"Reaching out to young people and working with the nation's oldest civil
rights organization is an indication of their willingness to work with and
support positive community building.  I look forward to working with General
Chair Jacques Nasser."
    This year's Fight For Freedom Fund Dinner will be held on April 29.
Proceeds will benefit Detroit Branch youth initiatives such as Back-to-School,
education ACT-SO.  For more information regarding ticket prices and other
sponsorship details please call the Detroit Branch NAACP, 313-871-2087.