Ford Motor Company and the Detroit Branch NAACP Host Fifth Annual Career Day and Youth Summit

- Actor/Choreographer Darrin DeWitt Henson is Guest Speaker

- $20,000 in Scholarships Awarded to Area Students

DETROIT, April 30 -- Ford Motor Company and the Detroit Branch NAACP have teamed up to present the Fifth Annual Career Day and Youth Summit. The event, part of the NAACP Freedom Weekend activities, will take place at the COBO Conference/Exhibition Center in Detroit on Saturday, April 30. Darrin DeWitt Henson of Showtime's hit series "Soul Food" and the creator of the popular dance video "Darrin's Dance Grooves" will be the keynote speaker.

Created by the Ford-Employees African Ancestry Network (FAAN) and the Detroit Branch NAACP, the annual event is designed to help young people make informed decisions about their academic and professional futures. Participants will have the opportunity to speak with more than 30 recruiters from colleges and universities across the country. Representatives from the auto industry also will be on hand to talk to students about careers in manufacturing, human resources, finance and design. The Summit also features workshops focusing on issues such as financial management, interviewing skills, leadership and entrepreneurship.

"Ford Motor Company has a tradition of supporting educational initiatives because we understand that knowledge is power. Our goal is to ensure that youth are equipped with the tools they need to succeed," said Pamela Alexander, director of community development and business operations, Ford Motor Company Fund. "Our intent is to help young people feel encouraged and empowered to make educated decisions about their futures."

Ford will award a total of $20,000 in scholarships to the 12 winners of its essay/presentation contest. This year's topic was based on the theme of the Detroit Branch NAACP's Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner, "After 50 Years ... Celebrating Our Victories ... Still Prepared for Our Struggles."

The Fifth Annual Career Day and Youth Summit is free and open to youth between the ages of 15 and 25. Parents and youth organization leaders also are encouraged to attend. Registration and a continental breakfast begin at 7 a.m., and the program ends at 1 p.m. Lunch will be served. Interested students and parents can obtain more information by visiting http://www.campbellco.com/careerday or calling (313) 203-7038.

Darrin DeWitt Henson studied acting for a number of years before landing on the Broadway stage in a play called "Stand Up Tragedy." He perfected his dance skills by performing with local street crews and began choreographing dance routines, which led to his first job with director Lionel Martin on the film "Long Shot." After small roles in "NYPD Blue," "New York Undercover," and "Beverly Hills 90210," he joined the cast of "Soul Food." As a choreographer, Henson has worked with many artists, including Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Jennifer Lopez, and he won an MTV Award for Best Music Video for his work on 'N Sync's "Bye, Bye, Bye" video. Henson, who spends much of his time doing Big Brother charity work, hopes to open "Grooves," a summer camp combining academic advancement with dance to heighten students' self-esteem and improve scholastic achievement.

FAAN is one of 10 employee resource groups at Ford that promote leadership development for minorities, women and other affinity groups. FAAN also works with young minorities through internship and educational programs.

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With nearly 325,000 employees and 110 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo. Its automotive-related services include Ford Motor Credit Company and Hertz. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit http://www.fordvehicles.com/ .