DaimlerChrysler Recognizes 'Good Neighbor Good Citizen' Employees

Fifth Annual Recognition Reception Honors Employees' Volunteer Efforts

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Dec. 20 -- DaimlerChrysler has acknowledged two individuals, one employee team and four plant locations for their charitable efforts in 2005. The award winners were honored for their dedication to their communities at a reception for DaimlerChrysler's "Good Neighbor Good Citizen" initiative Monday, December 19 at 6 p.m. at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

The winners were selected from nearly 150 nominations. The winners of the individual awards are Henry Smith, PQI Facilitator from the Mack Engine I & II plants in Warren, Mich. and Vera Petrusha, Mopar Systems (Centerline, Mich.). Smith was recognized for his work with BUOY, a community law enforcement organization in Detroit, and for his role as plant coordinator for all volunteer and community outreach activities for the Mack Engine plants. Petrusha is being recognized for a charity organization she established in Ukraine in 1998. The organization, Ukrainian Children's Aid & Relief Effort (UCARE), primarily funded by Petrusha, cares for orphaned children who have been neglected and works to provide them with medicine and shelter.

The DaimlerChrysler Hispanic Employee Network (DCHEN) was the recipient of the Good Neighbor Good Citizen team award. The group was acknowledged for its outreach in the Latino and Hispanic communities. During Thanksgiving, DCHEN provided food baskets to underprivileged families in Pontiac, Mich. and also donated a weekend of time to provide home clean-up services for senior citizens in Detroit.

The plant award was given to four locations that teamed up to provide a convoy of supplies to local community and government agencies along the Gulf Coast of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Employees at the company's Warren (Mich.) Truck Assembly Plant, Mack Engine I and II plants (Detroit), St. Louis North and South Assembly plants and Corporate Headquarters (Auburn Hills, Mich.) donated supplies and drove 100 vehicles to the afflicted region to assist in the relief effort.

In addition, Ronnie Meadows and Ann Breen were honored with Golden Apple awards for their longtime community volunteerism and support of DaimlerChrysler's social responsibility initiatives.

"At DaimlerChrysler, we share a strong commitment to support our neighbors in need in the communities where we live and work," said Frank Fountain, Senior Vice President - External Affairs and Public Policy. "These award winners -- and all of our employees who were nominated for Good Neighbor Good Citizen -- have embraced the philanthropic spirit of our company and should be commended for their efforts to brighten the lives of their neighbors."

The awards were presented by Fountain and Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer Sue Unger, General Manager - Powertrain Engine Foundry Division Alfredo Antenucci, and Director - Controlling and Supply Management, Information Technology Management Ricardo Hernandez.

The Good Neighbor Good Citizen award is presented to DaimlerChrysler employees and teams who have best promoted DaimlerChrysler by helping to build a more competitive, safe and productive society, whether through education, health and human services or citizenship. Award winners were selected by the time spent and size of the volunteer project in which they participated, the impact they had on the community and the consistent nature of their project with that of DaimlerChrysler's Good Neighbor Good Citizen program.

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