DaimlerChrysler Corporation Fund Sends Relief to Florida Tornado Victims

- Chrysler Group responds to Florida residents devastated by tornadoes in central Florida

- Company makes food drop-off at Second Harvest in Orlando today

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Feb. 16 -- The DaimlerChrysler Corporation Fund is assisting the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida by donating $50,000 to Second Harvest -- $25,000 in food and $25,000 in cash -- to assist residents affected by the recent tornadoes.

"The DaimlerChrysler Corporation Fund has a history of being a 'Good Neighbor and Good Citizen' and helping communities in good times and bad," said Frank Fountain, Chrysler Group Senior Vice President of External Affairs and Public Policy and President of the DaimlerChrysler Corporation Fund. "The donation to Second Harvest is an example of supporting communities where we live and do business."

Both the Orlando Business Center and the Parts Distribution Center (PDC) support Chrysler, Jeep(R) and Dodge dealerships in Florida, Alabama, eastern Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

"When the employees of the Chrysler Group Orlando Business Center and PDC heard about the devastation in Central Florida, we quickly responded," said Erwin Raphael, Chrysler Group Director - Retail Sales Promotions Southeast Business Center. "With the assistance of the DaimlerChrysler Corporation Fund we were able to coordinate this significant donation."

On February 2, severe thunderstorms and tornadoes struck a wide area of central Florida. More than 15 people were killed; homes, businesses and religious institutions were completely destroyed; and 20,000 residents were left without power and with limited access to food. In response, the DaimlerChrysler Corporation Fund quickly coordinated a convoy of eight Dodge Rams to deliver $25,000 worth of food and a $25,000 cash donation to Second Harvest.

The Dodge Ram convoy, led by an escort from the Orlando Police Department, will leave from DaimlerChrysler's Orlando PDC and deliver the food supplies to Second Harvest at 11 a.m. today. Joining the caravan will be a truck from Second Harvest carrying the balance of the donated food.

The food donation will be followed by a check presentation ceremony at noon.

"It only took a few moments for entire neighborhoods to be literally wiped off the map," said Dave Krepcho, Executive Director of Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. "The relief effort has now turned to recovery for these families, and this incredible support from the DaimlerChrysler Corporation Fund will help our organization play an important part in getting people on that long road back to normal."

Second Harvest will immediately distribute the food items to the residents of central Florida. In addition, the organization will use the monetary donation to purchase additional products and deliver them to the agencies that Second Harvest services.