Ford Contributes Over a Half Million Greeting Cards To St. Jude's Ranch

1 February 2000

    DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 29 -- Ford Motor Company
collected more than a half-million used greeting cards during the
1999 holiday season for recycling by the St. Jude's Ranch for Children.
    This number exceeds last year's contribution of 422,000 by over 100,000.
Ford volunteers helped collect cards not only from plant and office employees
worldwide, but also from visitors to the Ford Motor Company display at the
North American International Auto Show.
    The children's charity recycles the old cards into new cards to be sold
throughout the year.  The St. Jude's children cut, trim and paste the fronts
of the used cards onto new backings, and sell them as a fund-raiser for the
non-profit, non-sectarian group's program for abandoned, neglected and
troubled children and teens.
    "Recycled greeting cards are just another example of our broad commitment
to protecting the environment through recycling efforts," explains Andy Acho,
Ford's Director of Environmental Outreach and Strategy.  "This program is not
only helping Mother Nature, but the children from St. Jude's as well.  It
instills a work ethic, and the children derive self-esteem by seeing how they
can turn throw-aways into something society values."
    "Ford is the single largest contributor of cards to our 'Learn-to-Earn'
program, which helps to break that welfare syndrome.  It gives disadvantaged
children a second chance," explains Father William Cantrell, St. Jude's
executive director.
    Over the past seven years, Ford has contributed close to three million
cards for the charity -- the largest collection of any company or organization
in the 29-year history of the program.  This year, Ford volunteers are also
working to help sell thousands of recycled cards to raise money for the
children.
    Ford just completed a four-year $200,000 Challenge Grant to help St.
Jude's expand nationally and build additional campuses.  As a result of the
Ford Challenge, other companies and foundations have pledged millions of
dollars.
    This year, the collection team who visited Metro Detroit from Nevada,
consisted of six children, their adult chaperons and Father Cantrell.  They
collected cards from visitors in the Ford Motor Company Trustmark area of the
North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
    Individuals wishing to purchase the recycled cards from St. Jude's -- both
holiday and all-occasion cards are available -- should write or call:  St.
Jude's Ranch for Children, P.O. Box 60100, Boulder City, Nevada, 89006-0100,
800-492-3562.