Ford Employees to Make a World of Difference

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thousands of Ford Employees to Make a World of Difference

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, 10 September 2009

This week all around the world Ford Employees are taking time out of their work day to volunteer and make a difference in their local communities. Ford New Zealand is no different, with 70 per cent of their staff volunteering to get their hands dirty, literally, in three local South Auckland schools tomorrow.

Thousands of Ford Motor Company volunteers are reaching out and pitching in to create a better world by participating in community service projects on six continents and in nearly 40 countries during the fourth annual Global Week of Caring.

More than 8,000 Ford employee and retiree volunteers are on the job in nearly 200 locations in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and South Auckland, New Zealand. Their work includes renovating shelters, repairing schools, feeding the hungry, building projects and improving school grounds. The volunteers are the face of Ford in their local communities where they will contribute a projected 30,000 man hours of labour to helping those in need.

In local efforts Ford New Zealand staff will be donating 140 man hours, plants, planter boxes, friendship seats, vegetable gardens and hard yakka as they visit three South Auckland schools tomorrow.

"Each year, Ford employees around the world take time to give something back and to make a difference in their local community as part of our Ford Global Week of Caring initiative. This year 35 volunteers from Ford New Zealand will be transforming the grounds of three local schools by making a reflection garden, vegetable patches, planter boxes and seating for the children," said Trevor Auger, Managing Director of Ford New Zealand.

"This is our way of making a tangible difference to the community we work and live in. We are really looking forward to working with the children to enhance their learning environment."

The most significant planting project will take place at Homai Primary, where a reflection garden will be planted in recognition of two students who have passed away.

Homai Primary and its neighbour Manurewa High School will also receive a planter garden and seating area for students from the primary and high schools' mentoring programmes to utilise.

Ford staff will also plant a roadside garden and construct three vegetable gardens at Manurewa East Primary School.

"We have tied our community initiatives to our involvement in the Variety mini-bash, also happening tomorrow and all weekend in Auckland and the Waikato. This is our 19th year of sponsorship of this very worthy charity and the Rat Pack will be making it's 19th appearance in the mini-bash, with the team joining the other bashers after we have finished at the schools tomorrow", said Trevor Auger.

"This is a great example of the way in which our sponsors and Variety work together to 'plug the gaps' for Kiwi kids to help them reach their full potential – these planting projects will allow the children to learn about sustainability, healthy eating and how they can plant and grow food within the school environment" said Lorraine Taylor, CEO of Variety – the Children's Charity.

The Ford Rat Pack team will again be driving their 1963 MK III Zephyr and will join over 20 pre-1975 vehicles entered in this years 2009 Mini Bash.

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