March 14 Golden Mile Helps Kick Off WalkAmerica

UAW and Big Three Announce Joint Efforts to Support WalkAmerica at Press

Conference. Local Celebrities, Corporate Leaders and Student-Athletes to be

Recognized

WHAT: United Auto Workers, DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company and General Motors announce joint efforts to support WalkAmerica at a press conference being held Tuesday morning. Corporate leaders from the metro Detroit area will lead a half-mile walk in recognition of the kick off to WalkAmerica, March of Dimes' largest fundraiser. Also being recognized are the 12 finalists for the Michigan High School Athlete of the Year award.

  WHO:  Ron Gettelfinger, UAW President
        Representatives from Big Three Automotive Companies
        UAW Vice Presidents

  WHEN:  Tuesday, March 14, 2006
         UAW/Big Three Press Conference begins at 8:00 a.m.
         Program & Athlete Announcement begins at 9:00 a.m.
         Walk begins at 10:00 a.m.

WHERE: Press Conference and Program will be held at the Detroit Athletic Club. One-mile walk starts at Detroit Athletic Club and will continue through downtown Detroit area.

WHY: Whose baby will be next? One in eight babies is born prematurely (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) in this country, many without warning and for no known cause, according to the March of Dimes. Prematurity is the leading cause of newborn death (in the first month of life) and babies who do survive often face chronic health problems and developmental disabilities for the rest of their lives.

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of children by preventing birth defects and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy and in 2003 launched a campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth. For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at http://www.marchofdimes.com/ or its Spanish Web site at http://www.nacersano.org/.

PRNewswire -- March 13