Ford Seeks to Identify America's Local Heroes

    DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 6 Ford Blue Oval Certified dealers
announce the launch of the "Commitment to Kids" Awards -- a nationwide search
and recognition program for individuals who have positively shaped the lives
of children in their community.
    From Sept. 6 to Oct. 17, 2001, consumers can nominate deserving
individuals -- from teachers to coaches to counselors or anyone involved with
children -- for a Commitment to Kids award.  Entry details are available
online at http://www.fordvehicles.com.
    Seventeen award finalists will receive a cash prize of $500 and matching
contribution to their choice of children's charity.  Individuals who nominated
the finalists also will receive $500.  Six semi-finalists will receive an
expense-paid trip to New York City on Nov. 20 to participate in an awards
celebration with actress Jamie Lee Curtis and Ford Division President Jim
O'Connor.  The grand prize winner will receive a 2002 Ford Focus ZX5 and five
finalists will be given a TH!NK electric bike.
    The awards are part of Ford's overall Blue Oval Certified Commitment to
Kids program launched earlier this year.  The program began with a child
safety and identification initiative aimed at reducing the number of missing
children by distributing more than 450,000 child I.D. kits nationwide.
    "The Blue Oval Certified program is all about our dealers' commitments to
their customers and the communities in which they do business," said Jim
O'Connor.  "Through the Commitment to Kids Awards program, our Blue Oval
dealers now are reaching into their communities even further and recognizing
the contributions of individuals who have helped preserve our nation's most
precious resource -- our children."
    Ford Blue Oval Certified spokesperson and child advocate, actress Jamie
Lee Curtis, has been involved in the Commitment to Kids campaign all year.
"Helping Ford dealers spread the word on child safety and distribute child
I.D. kits across the country has really hit home for me," Curtis said.  "By
participating, I've learned that people in each community, regardless of
position or status, can truly make a difference in the lives of children."
    Ford Blue Oval Certified -- the most comprehensive customer satisfaction
program in the auto industry -- helps ensure that customers receive a
best-in-class retail experience at Ford dealerships.  Dealers must meet a
stringent set of customer satisfaction criteria including a Voice of the
Customer Index as well as other sales, service, concern resolution and
technology requirements.
    More than 3,600 Ford dealers -- over 90 percent -- have achieved Blue Oval
Certification or are in the process of doing so.  Since launching the program,
Ford's customer surveys show purchase satisfaction for 2001 has increased
11 percent and overall service satisfaction is up 6 percent.

    Editor's Notes: For more information on Ford's Commitment to Kids Awards,
                    official rules, and entry details, visit
                    http://www.fordvehicles.com.

                    Information on Ford's Blue Oval Certified program is
                    available at http://media.ford.com.  Keyword search:  Blue
                    Oval Certified.

    For further information please contact Susan Krusel, +1-313-594-4175, or
pager, +1-888-467-3673, skrusel@ford.com; or Media Information Center,
+1-800-665-1515 or +1-313-621-0504, media@ford.com.

    Go to http://media.ford.com for news releases and high-resolution
photographs.

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