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

* Free Event is Designed to Help Youth Jump Start Their Futures
* Automaker to Award $20,000 in Scholarships through Essay Competition

Dearborn, MI (Friday, April 8) - 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 Freedom Weekend activities, will take place at the Cobo Conference and Exhibition Center in Detroit on Saturday, April 30 from 7 a.m.-1 p.m.

Created by the Ford African Ancestry Network (FAAN) and the Detroit Branch NAACP, the annual event is designed to help youth make informed decisions about their academic and professional futures. Participants will have the opportunity to interact with more than 30 exhibitors during the career and college fair and attend personal and professional development workshops. A continental breakfast and lunch will be served.

"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. "It is important to share wisdom with youth, and Ford is committed to sharing our resources with young people so that they are empowered to make educated decisions about their futures." 

Ford will sponsor an essay contest, another component of the career day event. The automaker will award $20,000 in scholarships to students who demonstrate exemplary writing ability, presentation skills, and critical analysis of the topic. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Detroit Branch NAACP's Freedom Fund Dinner, students must write a two-page essay related to the theme "After 50 Years...Celebrating Our Victories...Still Prepared for Our Struggles." The deadline for entries is April 18. Winners will be announced at the event.

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 are also encouraged to attend. Pre-registration is required. Interested students and parents can obtain more information and register for the event at http://www.campbellco.com/careerday.

FAAN is one of nearly a dozen employee resource groups at Ford that promote leadership development for minorities and women. FAAN also works with young minorities through internship and educational programs.

Ford Motor Company Fund supports programs that enhance and enrich the communities where Ford Motor Company does business. Ford Motor Company Fund is committed to creating educational opportunities that stimulate creativity and promote cultural diversity. In 2004, Ford Motor Company Fund dedicated almost $80 million to educational initiatives, cultural sponsorships, performing arts events, and university scholarships and programs geared towards schoolchildren. For more information on programs made possible by Ford Motor Company Fund, visit www.ford.com.

For more information, contact Tracy Walker at (313) 657-7018.