Mercedes-Benz Financial Employees and Beyond Basics Combine to Make Learning on Halloween Fun at Thirkell Elementary School in Detroit

  WHAT:  About 50 employees from Mercedes-Benz Financial, in conjunction
         with Beyond Basics, a non-profit group which assists in educating
         metropolitan Detroit public school children through academic
         enrichment programs, will spend Halloween morning with school
         children at Thirkell Elementary School in Detroit in grades K-2
         working on reading, writing and art projects.

  WHO:
         -- Students, Thirkell Elementary School, in grades K through 2
         -- Pamela Good, Executive Director, Beyond Basics,
         -- Dr. Claire Smith, Principal, Thirkell Elementary
         -- 50 employees of Mercedes-Benz Financial led by Juergen Rochert,
            Vice President of Mercedes-Benz Financial, and Christopher
            Kaefer, Vice President Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Financial

  WHEN:  Tuesday, October 31, 2006, 9 a.m. to Noon

  WHERE: Thirkell Elementary School, 7724 14th Street, Detroit, MI 48206
         (Phone 313-596-0990). The school is located near the intersection
         of West Grand Boulevard and 14th Street.

  OTHER: Beyond Basics inspires communities by strengthening relationships
         between school children, their caregivers, their schools and their
         neighborhoods through various workshops and community building
         activities. The program is directed and coordinated by
         professionals in the fields of education and psychology from
         Oakland University, Marygrove College and Wayne State University.

  Contacts:
  Jack Ferry, Mercedes-Benz Financial,
  Cell 248-761-3233, jrf4@dcx.com
  Pamela Good, Beyond Basics, 248-330-9062

PRNewswire -- Oct. 30