The Chrysler Foundation Announces $200,000 Donation in Food and Supplies to the Houston Food Bank

HOUSTON, Sept. 22, 2008 - Houston-area Dodge dealers loaded 50 new 2008 Dodge Ram pickup trucks with $200,000 worth of food and supplies on behalf of The Chrysler Foundation today and distributed the items to 10 different charities to help victims of Hurricane Ike.

"The Chrysler Foundation is proud to partner with the Houston Food Bank to aid the citizens of Houston whose lives have been devastated by Hurricane Ike," Brian Glowiak, Vice President -- The Chrysler Foundation, said. "This relief effort came together in under 24 hours thanks to the efforts of food bank organizers, our dealers and their employees, as well as Chrysler LLC Southwest Business Center and Mopar(R) Parts Distribution Center employees in Dallas all working together to support those in a time of need."

Due to the value of volume purchasing provided by the Houston Food Bank, the donation amount of $200,000 was nearly doubled, which equated to seven semitrailers filled with food and supplies for distribution.

Also, in order to continue long-term distribution efforts of the food bank, The Chrysler Foundation, Chrysler LLC Southwest Business Center and local dealers donated three new 2008 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty pickup trucks, equipped with 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel engines, to the Houston Food Bank.

"Today's event and donation is a great example of corporate responsibility in action," Brian Greene, President -- Houston Food Bank, said. "Chrysler saw the need and opportunity to help, and reached out to us. The results are food and water for thousands of Texans ravaged by Hurricane Ike and three heavy-duty trucks for the Food Bank that will help deliver food and other essentials for many years to come."

The Dodge dealers worked with representatives of the Houston Food Bank to distribute items to the following local agencies and temporary shelters:

  -- St. John Neumann, 2730 Nelwood, Houston
  -- Community of Faith, 1023 Pinemont, Houston
  -- Church at Houston, 1400 Brittmore, Houston
  -- Southeast Area Ministries, 2102 Houston Blvd South Houston
  -- Bethel Ministry, 3015 5th Street, Stafford, Texas
  -- Our Mother's Mercy Catholic Church, 4000 Sumpter, Houston
  -- Ward Chapel, 6823 Arabella, Houston
  -- John L. Food Depot, 610 Memory Lane, Houston
  -- Community Family Center, 7524 Avenue E., Houston
  -- Community Christians in Action, 10800 Hammerly, Houston

Volunteers from local Dodge dealerships include Allen Samuels Dodge (Austin); Allen Samuels Dodge (Katy); Allen Samuels Dodge (Houston); Archer Dodge (Stafford); Clear Lake Dodge (Webster); Finnegan Chrysler Jeep Dodge (Rosenberg); Gulfgate Dodge (Houston); Helfman River Oaks Chrysler Jeep (Houston); Helfman Dodge (Houston); Planet Dodge (Humble); Rogers Dodge of Alvin (Alvin); Spring Chrysler Jeep Dodge (Spring) and Tomball Dodge Chrysler Jeep (Tomball).

"A majority of Chrysler, Jeep(R) and Dodge dealers in Houston are still without power at their residences and places of business," Todd Stewart, Chrysler LLC Field Operations Manager - Southwest Business Center, said. "However, despite these distractions, our dealers and their employees took the time to make a huge difference in the city of Houston, which makes me very proud to be a Chrysler LLC employee."