Meritor Automotive Sponsors Major Cancer-Fighting Event
11 April 2000
Meritor Automotive Sponsors Major Cancer-Fighting Event
Broadway Actors from 'Phantom' Brought to Detroit
TROY, Mich. April 10 Meritor Automotive, Inc.
will sponsor the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute's 18th Annual Dinner,
one of the area's largest annual charitable events. The event raises funds
for Karmanos cancer research and patient programs.
Meritor has committed $100,000 to be the title sponsor of the event, to be
held Saturday, May 6, at 6 p.m. at the Compuware Sports Arena in Plymouth. As
part of the event partnership, Meritor CEO and chairman of the board Larry D.
Yost, and his wife, Joann, of Rochester Hills, will co-chair the event.
"We are proud to be part of such a worthwhile cause," said Yost. "Joann
and I are personally dedicated to supporting the exceptional efforts put forth
in this crusade against cancer. We are committed to the challenge of reaching
out and encouraging support for the incredible advancements that the Institute
has made and the aggressive goals they have to finding a cure in the future."
Production company Events and Entertainment of Michigan, Inc. of
Southfield will transform Compuware Sports Arena into an 1860s-era French
opera house for the event, to be themed, "Phantom of the Institute." Draped
velvets and gold trim, candelabras and fog will create the aura of fantasy
mixed with reality. Broadway actors Sandra Joseph will play "Christine," Ron
Bohmer will be "The Phantom" and Lawrence Anderson will play "Raoul."
WOMC radio personality Dick Purtan, and his daughter, WXYZ TV-7 anchor
JoAnn Purtan, will serve as the Masters of Ceremonies. Tickets are $250 to
$750 each. For more information or tickets, call 800-KARMANOS (800-527-6266),
8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.
Last year, the Institute's Annual Dinner netted more than $750,000 for
Institute programs. Crain's Detroit Business named it the Detroit area's 6th-
largest annual charity event during 1999, a ranking based on event proceeds.
The event partnership is in keeping with Meritor's generous support of the
Institute. Meritor has recently donated $500,000 to the Institute's Cancer
Care and Cure Campaign.
The campaign supports innovative developments at the Institute, including:
* Cancer research, such as a study that shows tomato consumption might
prevent cancer and another that could link breast cancer reoccurrence and body
weight.
* State-of-the-art medical treatment and screening, including breast
cancer screening at the Institute's Walt Comprehensive Breast Center in
Detroit; the Institute's Somerset Prevention Center; and its Berkley
Prevention Center.
* Patient care programs at the Institute's Bone Marrow Transplantation
Unit, which is ranked among the top three centers of its type in the United
States for quality of care.
* An innovative "brain trust" of physicians, researchers,
biostatisticians and economists at the Institute's Center for Economics,
Technology Assessment and Innovative Development (CETAID). Opened in 1998,
the center's experts analyze cancer from new angles as a measure to hasten the
eradication of cancer.
* Community outreach and patient education programs to support patients
prior to, during, and following cancer treatment.
The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute is one of the nation's leading
cancer research, treatment, education and outreach centers. It is affiliated
with Wayne State University and The Detroit Medical Center and supported by
United Way.
Meritor, with 1999 sales of $4.5 billion, is a global supplier of a broad
range of systems and components for commercial, specialty and light vehicle
OEMs and the aftermarket.
Meritor consists of two businesses: Heavy Vehicle Systems, a leading
supplier of complete drivetrain systems and components for medium- and heavy-
duty trucks, trailers and off-highway equipment and specialty vehicles,
including military, bus and coach, and fire and rescue; and Light Vehicle
Systems, a major supplier of roof, door, access control and suspension systems
and wheel products for passenger cars, light trucks and sport utility
vehicles.
Meritor World Wide Web Site Address: http://www.meritorauto.com
This press release contains statements relating to future results of the
company (including certain projections and business trends) that are "forward-
looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a
result of various risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to global
economic and market conditions; the demand for commercial, specialty and light
vehicles for which the company supplies products; risks inherent in operating
abroad; OEM program delays; demand for and market acceptance of new and
existing products; successful development of new products; reliance on major
OEM customers; labor relations of the company, its customers and suppliers;
and competitive product and pricing pressures, as well as other risks and
uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time
in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These forward-
looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and the company
undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise