10th Anniversary of Innovative Partnership Now Has Truck in Every State; 130 Million Meals Delivered and 5.7 Million Miles Traveled

DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- For the 10th consecutive year, Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) and Newman's Own®, Inc. are partnering with Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger relief organization, to provide Ford refrigerated trucks loaded with Newman's Own food products to communities in need throughout the country.  This unique "Partnership for Hunger Relief" began when Paul Newman reached out to Bill Ford, then chairman and CEO of Ford Motor Company, in an effort to improve distribution of produce and other perishable food to those facing hunger in rural America.  

With the recent donations of nine more vehicles, the fleet of 98 refrigerated Ford trucks and vans now reaches into all 50 states. For the past 10 years, Ford Motor Company and Newsman's Own have partnered to donate vehicles filled with food products provided from Newman's Own to food banks affiliated with Feeding America.  

"Through this unique partnership, Ford Motor Company has remained committed to playing a role in addressing hunger relief throughout good and bad economic times," said Bill Ford, executive chairman, Ford Motor Company. "To date, our donated trucks have delivered more than 130 million meals to families across the country."

The refrigerated trucks allow for delivery of fresh and nutritious food to hard to reach communities that often are underserved.  Donated produce, meat and dairy products cannot be delivered to remote areas unless refrigerated trucks are available for long delivery routes.

"Newman's Own as a company and the individuals who comprise it share a great commitment to the Partnership, especially since it was near and dear to Paul Newman," said Tom Indoe, president and chief operating officer of Newman's Own, Inc.  "Watching the progress we have made in the last nine years reinforces that this program is the right thing to do; it has and will continue to make an impact on the quality of life for many people."

Food banks recently receiving trucks are: Food Bank of Alaska in Anchorage, AK; Kenai Peninsula Food Bank in Soldotna, AK; Food Bank of Delaware in Newark, DE; Idaho Food Bank in Boise, ID; Food Bank of Siouxland in Sioux City, IA; Food Bank of South Jersey in Pennsauken, NJ; Food Bank of Northern Nevada in McCarran, NV; Rhode Island Community Food Bank in Providence, RI and Utah Food Bank in Salt Lake City, UT.  

Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America, said, "Feeding America provided food and grocery products to more than 37 million Americans last year, an increase of nearly 50 percent in the past four years. We would not have been able to meet this huge increase in need without the generous support of corporations like Newman's Own and the Ford Motor Company."

Feeding America is the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization, providing food to people in rural, urban and suburban communities. 

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 163,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.

Newman's Own ®, Inc. ─ founded by Paul Newman in 1982, is a successful and growing premium food business. Newman's Own offers more than 100 varieties of delicious all-natural food and beverage products, which include salad dressings, pasta sauces, salsa, popcorn, lemonade, and thin & crispy frozen pizza.  Based in Westport, CT, the charitable mission of Newman's Own®, Inc. was expressed by Paul in the Company motto: "Shameless exploitation in pursuit of the Common Good." Newman's Own Foundation continues Paul Newman's commitment to donate all profits to charity. More than $300 million has been given to thousands of charities since 1982. Visit www.newmansown.com for the nearest retailer/s that carry Newman's Own products and for recipe suggestions using Newman's Own®, Inc. products. Visit Newman's Own on Facebook at www.facebook.com/newmansown       Learn more about our mission at www.newmansownfoundation.org.

SOURCE Ford Motor Company

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