Chrysler Group Challenges Black and Hispanic Journalists to Step It Up!

AUBURN HILLS, MI--June 6, 2013:

• Program engages multicultural journalists to raise awareness of health and wellness issues impacting Black and Hispanic communities
• Fitness challenge builds on Chrysler Group's experience as a leader in promoting healthy and sustainable lifestyles of its employees and their families

Chrysler Group LLC in unique partnership with the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) are working together to bring greater focus and awareness to the need for better health and wellness education in underserved multicultural communities.

"Chrysler Group is pleased to extend our commitment to nurturing a culture of health within our Company to touch and positively affect lives in the wider community through this program with the NABJ and NAHJ," said Kathleen Neal, Director -- Integrated Health & Disability, Chrysler Group LLC. "Health and wellness must be a front and center issue for everyone concerned about healthy, sustainable communities."

The initiative officially began on May 25, comprised of two phases. The first phase is a 30-day Wellness Challenge where the members of the NABJ Detroit and Chicago chapters, and the members of the NAHJ Los Angeles and New York chapters, compete against one another, sporting pedometers that automatically track each participant's steps. The reward for most steps between each group includes scholarship dollars the organizations can use to support aspiring journalists.

"Over the years, the Detroit Chapter of NABJ has had a great working relationship with the Chicago chapter but when it comes to going head to head in the Chrysler walking challenge, Detroit participants are ready to step up to blow the windy city chapter away!" said Vickie Thomas, President, NABJ -- Detroit. "Our chapter was proud to successfully complete the pilot program in which participants logged over six million steps to secure $5,000 for our scholarship fund. We also thank Chrysler for now giving both chapters the opportunity to earn scholarship dollars to support future minority journalists."

"NABJ-Chicago is extremely excited to participate in the Chrysler 30 Day Step into Fitness and Wellness Challenge," said Kathy Chaney, President, NABJ -- Chicago. "This initiative brings much-needed attention to a health issue that disproportionately affects the Black community, and that is obesity. Making this even more rewarding, we will be stepping our way to funding for our main mission as an organization -- diversity scholarships for our students. We look forward to a friendly battle with our journalism colleagues in Detroit. May the best walkers win. Spoiler alert: That'll be NABJ-Chicago."

In the second phase, Chrysler Group will host a health pavilion at the NABJ and NAHJ national conventions. The pavilions will touch many key areas of wellness, including health screenings, strategies for reducing stress, exercise and nutrition, all areas identified as concerns in the Black and Hispanic communities.

Chrysler Group has a solid history as a leader in healthy and sustainable lifestyles of its employees and their families. The National Business Group on Health (NBGH) has awarded Chrysler Group as one of the nation's top corporations providing comprehensive programs that enable a healthy workplace and promote healthy lifestyles for employees and their families. This year, Chrysler Group received a gold medal award for the fifth consecutive year, and was the only automaker to receive this award for the third year in a row. The award, Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles, recognizes companies that truly embrace a culture of wellness and work collaboratively to improve their employees' health, productivity and quality of life.

"This is a unique fitness and wellness educational program challenging journalists who can use their first-hand experiences to reach the communities they serve to encourage healthy and sustainable lifestyles," Neal said. "It's about getting the word out to step it up."

Follow the challenge at our media site, blog, Facebook and Twitter pages (#chryslerwellness or #chryslerbienestar).

About Chrysler Group's Commitment to Promoting a Culture of Health
Chrysler Group's culture of health is a key part of the Company's high-performance work culture and is tied to its leadership principles, particularly promoting each team member's commitment to achieving best in class performance. Chrysler Group's goal is to support workplace policies and a work environment that inspire totally engaged employees who are healthy at work and at home, actively manage their health status and are sustainable, healthy contributors to the Company's success.

About the National Business Group on Health
The National Business Group on Health is the nation's only non-profit, membership organization of large employers devoted exclusively to finding innovative and forward-thinking solutions to their most important health care and related benefits issues and to being the voice for large employers on national health care issues. The Business Group, whose 345 members include 64 of the Fortune 100, identifies, develops and shares best practices in health benefits, disability, health and productivity, related paid time off and work/life balance issues. Business Group members provide health coverage for more than 55 million U.S. workers, retirees and their families. For more information, visit Business Group Health .

About Chrysler Group LLC
Chrysler Group LLC, formed in 2009 to establish a global strategic alliance with Fiat S.p.A., produces Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Mopar, SRT and Fiat vehicles and products. With the resources, technology and worldwide distribution network required to compete on a global scale, the alliance builds on Chrysler Group's culture of innovation, first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925, and Fiat's complementary technology that dates back to its founding in 1899.

Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., Chrysler Group's product lineup features some of the world's most recognizable vehicles, including the Chrysler 300 and Town & Country, Jeep Wrangler, all-new Dodge Dart, Ram 1500, Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 and Fiat 500. Fiat contributes world-class technology, platforms and powertrains for small- and medium-size cars, allowing Chrysler Group to offer an expanded product line including environmentally friendly vehicles.