Ford Supports The Children's Center With Taste! International Events

DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 6, 2003 -- The annual Taste! Fall series has been enhanced this year with a multicultural theme that will take guests on an international journey of food and wine. Ford Motor Company is sponsoring the new Taste! International events, hosted by The Ritz-Carlton, Dearborn and benefiting The Children's Center in Detroit.

The first of the two events, Taste! Indian Cuisine Wine Dinner, begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday, November 14, at The Ritz-Carlton. The menu will feature Indian cuisine blended with influences of the Orient, prepared by Chef de Cuisine Stephen Jalbert and Chef Rajesh Kattaria, the newest addition to The Ritz-Carlton, Dearborn's award-winning kitchen staff. Tickets are $150 per person.

The second event of the Taste! International series is the Taste! Wine & Spirits Tasting International at 6 p.m. Friday, November 21. Those attending will celebrate the release of the highly anticipated 2003 Beaujolais Nouveau and enjoy an array of international cuisine, wonderful desserts and exotic beverages from eight different countries. Tickets are $55 per person.

"The Children's Center in Detroit has been the driving force behind helping so many children and their families live better lives," said Ron Thomas, Ford Motor Company's manager, corporate alliances. "Ford Motor Company is happy to support The Ritz-Carlton, Dearborn and its wonderful staff as they deliver a one-of-a-kind series of events to raise funds for The Children's Center."

This marks the seventh year Ford Motor Company has joined The Ritz- Carlton, Dearborn in sponsoring and hosting the unique Taste! series of events.

"We are excited to again join Ford Motor Company in presenting Taste!, and we truly appreciate the support of Ford in making this popular series possible for so many years," said Gerard van Grinsvan, general manager of The Ritz- Carlton, Dearborn. "We look forward once again to a very successful event, and to continue offering exciting and creative functions to benefit the community."

To purchase tickets and for further information, please call The Ritz- Carlton, Dearborn at 313-441-2100, or log on to www.ritzcarlton.com . The Ritz-Carlton, Dearborn is located at Fairlane Plaza, 300 Town Center Drive, west of the Southfield Freeway off the Hubbard Drive exit.

The Children's Center, established in 1929 by U.S. Senator James Couzens as one of the nation's first child-guidance clinics, has grown to be one of the largest, most diverse child-serving agencies in Michigan while addressing the needs of nearly 7,000 children and families annually through 28 inter- related programs.

Ford Motor Company is the world's second-largest automaker, with approximately 350,000 employees and dealerships in more than 200 markets on six continents. Its automotive brands include Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury, Aston Martin and Volvo. Its automotive-related services include Ford Credit, Hertz and Quality Care. Ford Motor Company officially observed its 100th anniversary on June 16.