Ford Offers 'Green' to Get 'Green,' in Hip Environmental Elementary School Contest

* Ford Motor Company, with the help of popular television personalities Paul DiMeo and Constance Ramos of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, is calling for entries in its Radical Renovation: School Edition contest.

* Ford has partnered with National Geographic to promote the hip contest and teach grade-school students that being environmentally aware is easy and fun.

* Teachers nationwide are encouraged to submit their students' vision of a sustainable, eco-friendly school for a chance to win $100,000 for eco-renovations. To learn more about Ford's "cool school" program, visit www.nationalgeographic.com/gogreen/ford.

* Ford has a long history of environmental efforts, including a Proud Partnership with America's National Parks. Ford's commitment to the environment is the inspiration behind programs that encourage the implementation of sustainability concepts, especially among America's youth.

DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 10 -- Ford Motor Company is way too cool for school. The automaker is joining forces with National Geographic, one of the most respected environmental brands in the world, and challenging American grade schoolers to get "green." Ford's ultra-hip Radical Renovation: School Edition initiative, a fresh approach to the ultra-popular home makeover trend, launches today and asks students how they'd make their school more environmentally friendly. One great plan will be worth $100,000.

The upbeat Radical Renovation: School Edition contest is easy to enter -- everything is online at www.nationalgeographic.com/gogreen/ford. It will be promoted in the March issues of National Geographic and National Geographic Kids magazines. Ford is calling on elementary school students to develop a fun plan to make their campus more environmentally responsible. The winning class will receive $100,000 from Ford to make its vision a reality.

Ford has sponsored an environmentally focused lesson plan developed by National Geographic that will be available to teachers nationwide. The lesson plan will include a teacher's guide, student guides and a classroom poster. An online kit will be available in February.

The deadline for entering Ford's Radical Renovation: School Edition is April 7, 2005, with one winner chosen by a panel of experts from National Geographic and Ford Motor Company.

"I wish we had fun like this when I was in grade school," said Paul DiMeo, who, along with Constance Ramos of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, will head up the eco-conscious renovation of the winning class' campus. "This is a cool Ford program that reaches out to kids and teachers on a grassroots level, and I look forward to it catching on."

As part of the playful lesson plan provided to teachers, students will be encouraged in fun ways to think about their school and home life to find ways of improving the environment around them, while teachers will be provided with an entertaining, step-by-step plan to teach students about realizing potential solutions. The lesson plan promotes analytical thinking and teamwork, core values at Ford, which the automaker hopes to help instill in American school children.

"For more than 75 years, Ford has taken a clear leadership role in promoting eco-responsibility to all consumers -- motorists and non motorists -- and even those not yet old enough to drive," said CEO Bill Ford. "The Radical Renovation: School Edition initiative, including a welcome partnership with a global environmental leader like National Geographic, is just one of many ways the company looks to challenge and even reshape our thinking to focus on the sustainability of our planet. Regardless of which school wins the prize, everyone's a winner."

Leading the Charge

Along with its commitment to building quality vehicles, Ford Motor Company is equally committed to making the world of tomorrow a greener place with a history of pursuing sustainable, environmentally conscious plant and vehicle designs. To further strengthen its message of eco-responsibility, Ford leads by example. From the 1940 use of soy bean oil in paint enamel to the role Ford plays supporting and preserving America's National Parks the company remains committed to a more sustainable world.

Ford's historic role as a Proud Partner of America's National Parks began in 2000. Since that time, Ford has worked closely with the National Park Foundation and the National Park Service to help preserve the environmental and cultural resources of our National Parks. Ford has donated electric and Escape Hybrid vehicles to National Parks across America. Ford restored a fleet of 33 historic red buses to run on cleaner-burning propane fuel in Glacier National Park. Ford also placed more than 140 college-aged "interpreters" and 25 Masters- and PhD-level "scholars" in parks to promote the use of alternative transportation and work in unison with National Park Service staff.

On a local level, Ford's environmental outreach includes its own backyard as well. The company's Dearborn Truck Plant at the Rouge Complex has the world's largest living roof -- more than eight football fields in size -- which is used to clean the surrounding air and insulate the plant. Water for the plant is solar heated, and the company is exploring ways to make electricity from paint fumes.

Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With more than 327,000 employees worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo. Its automotive-related services include Ford Credit, Quality Care and Hertz. Ford Motor Company celebrated its 100th anniversary on June 16, 2003.

National Geographic

Founded in 1888, the National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Its mission is to increase and diffuse geographic knowledge while promoting the conservation of the world's cultural, historical and natural resources. National Geographic reflects the world through its five magazines, television programs, films, radio, books, videos, maps, interactive media and merchandise.

National Geographic magazine, the Society's official journal, published in 24 languages, is read by 40 million people each month in every country in the world. National Geographic Kids, a multitopic, photo-driven magazine for 6- to 14-year-olds, has a monthly circulation of more than 1.2 million. National Geographic Channel reaches more than 230 million households in 27 languages in 151 countries. Nationalgeographic.com averages around 50 million page views per month. National Geographic has funded nearly 8,000 scientific research projects and supports an education program combating geography illiteracy. For more information, log on to nationalgeographic.com; AOL Keyword: NatGeo.

National Park Foundation

The National Park Foundation (www.nationalparks.org), chartered by Congress in 1967, is the official nonprofit partner of America's National Parks. The National Park Foundation strengthens the enduring connection between the American people and their National Parks by raising private funds, making strategic grants, creating innovative partnerships and increasing public awareness. Over the past seven years, the Foundation has contributed more than $135 million in grants and program support to National Parks across the country.

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