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Ford Adds a Green Touch to Detroit Police's Halloween 'Kid Crawl'

30 October 1998

Ford Adds a Green Touch to Detroit Police Department's Halloween 'Kid Crawl'

    DETROIT, Oct. 30 -- A fleet of Ford Motor Company
natural gas-powered Econoline vans will help about 75 Detroit-area children
have a safe, fun Halloween this year.  What the kids won't know is that, along
with all the fun they are having, they will be helping the environment at the
same time.
    In connection with the Detroit Police Department's first-ever Halloween
Kid Crawl, Ford gave the police the use of eight natural gas Econoline vans
for the day.  The vans will be used to take Detroit-area children on an
afternoon of fun including trick-or-treating at various police precincts in
the city, attending a mini-carnival and pizza party, and getting to shake
hands with players from the Detroit Lions football team.
    "The idea for Kid Crawl came about as we saw how successful Mayor Archer's
'Angels Night' was in dramatically reducing Devils Night fires and making that
night safer," said Benny Napoleon, Detroit Police Chief.  "We believe that
ensuring a safe, enjoyable Halloween for the children of Detroit is a natural
next step.  We appreciate Ford's help in making sure the kids are carried
safely from place-to-place."
    The Econoline vans will transport children, police and chaperones to the
various precincts where police will greet them with candy and other goodies.
Ford has also donated boxes of "car cookies," recycled plastic "loot" bags and
Mattel Hot Wheels(R) toy trucks modeled after Ford's natural gas-powered
F-Series pickup truck.
    "Kids, safety and the environment are very important issues to Ford, and
this event encompasses all three," says Andy Acho, Ford director of
Environmental Outreach.  "This is a great use for our natural gas vans because
they are cleaner vehicles, yet tough and durable to help the kids have a safe
-- and fun -- Halloween."
    Ford's natural gas Econolines are part of Ford's green fleet of
alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) including those powered by natural gas,
electricity, propane and ethanol.  In addition, more than 800,000 Ford cars
and trucks -- all Ford Explorers and Expeditions, Mercury Mountaineers and
Lincoln Navigators, as well as the Ford Windstar minivan -- will be sold
throughout the United States as Low Emission Vehicles, keeping about 5 million
pounds of smog out of the air.  This green fleet is evidence of Ford's
commitment to taking major actions right now to help improve air quality.