2006 DaimlerChrysler Financial Services/NNPA Foundation Entrepreneurial Award Celebrates the Entrepreneurial Spirit of the Black Press

- Competition open to all NNPA-member publications - Winner receives $10,000 - Deadline for entries is January 31, 2006

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., Dec. 1 -- Publishers of the nation's black newspapers can win $10,000 for their publication by demonstrating their business savvy in the 2006 DaimlerChrysler Financial Services/NNPA Foundation Entrepreneurial Award Competition. DaimlerChrysler Financial Services is now accepting entries in the competition, which was created to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit of the nation's Black Press.

Now in its second year, the DaimlerChrysler Financial Services/NNPA Foundation Entrepreneurial Award is designed to encourage NNPA-member publications to seek alternative and innovative ways to promote and build their publication's business, while demonstrating an entrepreneurial and community-minded spirit. DaimlerChrysler Financial Services pledged $30,000 over three years to establish the award.

"Competition in the publishing arena is fierce, and as a result you need entrepreneurial-minded people who can redefine what publications look like, how they should interact with their audience, and how they remain at the forefront of disseminating information in a world of information overflow," said Klaus Entenmann, President and CEO of DaimlerChrysler Financial Services. "The DaimlerChrysler Financial Services/NNPA Foundation Entrepreneurial Award is the first of its kind because it doesn't focus on the editorial content of the publication, but is earmarked for those NNPA-member publications who have established the most creative campaign to promote unity, economic development and goodwill within their market."

The winning publication will receive a check for $10,000, travel and accommodations to Black Press Week in Washington, D.C. and the use of a DaimlerChrysler-brand vehicle for one week. In addition, the winning publication will receive an originally-designed sculpture commissioned by DaimlerChrysler Services especially for the DaimlerChrysler Financial Services/NNPA Foundation Entrepreneurial Award competition. Also, this year, DaimlerChrysler Financial Services has added an Honorable Mention award. The winner of that award will receive $2,500, a plaque and travel and accommodations to Washington, D.C. for Black Press Week.

The first DaimlerChrysler Financial Services/NNPA Foundation Entrepreneurial Award went to Dr. Donald Suggs of the St. Louis American newspaper. The 2006 winners will be announced at a reception during the 2006 NNPA Black Press Week in Washington, D.C., scheduled for March 16, 2006.

The DaimlerChrysler Financial Services/NNPA Foundation Entrepreneurial Award is open to all NNPA member publications. Interested publications can receive a copy of the official rules and entry form online at http://www.nnpa.org/ and http://www.blackpressusa.com/ or by visiting the DaimlerChrysler Financial Services contest website at http://www.daimlerchryslerfinancialservices.com/NNPA . Deadline for entries is Tuesday, January 31, 2006. The winners will be notified by Tuesday, February 28, 2006. Entries should be delivered or mailed to:

  Daimler Chrysler Financial Services Americas LLC and
  NNPA Foundation Entrepreneurial Award Competition Contest
  13 Knodishall Way
  Hampton, VA 23644