DEARBORN, Mich., July 2 /PRNewswire/ -- It's okay to vote early and vote often ... at least when the voting helps out a good cause.
Starting today, and running through August 14, the public is invited to visit www.jdrf.org/ford, view more than 200 paint scheme designs and vote for their favorite children's design by making a monetary donation to JDRF, all as part of Ford Customer Service Division's second annual Funny Car Design Contest.
The top five donation-earning designs will go in front of a panel of judges and narrowed down to one. The winning design will be featured on Motorcraft/Quick Lane sponsored Mustang Shelby driven by Bob Tasca III during the NHRA Carolinas Nationals in Concord, NC, on Sept. 18-20.
For the past month, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) children have taken their crayons, markers and paintbrushes to a blank canvas in the shape of the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang Funny Car. Their goal - see their design come to life on Tasca's Shelby Mustang Nitro funny car in September.
"We had some amazing designs last year and I think the JDRF children have really raised the bar for this year's contest," said Darryl Hazel, Ford Customer Service Division president. "All of us at Ford are really excited for this year's program and are ready to go online to vote. We are honored to have this partnership with JDRF to help them raise awareness and a cure for Type 1 diabetes."
The winning designer will be selected on August 17, 2009. They will be invited to the NHRA Carolinas Nationals in Concord, NC, with his or her parents for an official unveiling of their paint scheme, and a chance to spend time with the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team and see their design run during qualifying sessions for the race.
Last year's winner was Samuel Millard, a six-year-old resident of Greenville, Texas, and member of the Greater Dallas Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Millard and his family were special guests at the NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis where his design appeared on Tasca's Ford Shelby MustangNitro Funny Car. Last year's contest drew 306 designs and help raise awareness and more than $84,000 for JDRF.
Diabetes affects more Ford families than any other disease. Ford Motor Company has raised more than $27 million for JDRF since the grassroots campaign started in 1998.
About Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)
JDRF is the leading charitable funder and advocate of type 1 (juvenile) diabetes research worldwide. The mission of JDRF is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. Type 1 diabetes is a disease, which strikes children suddenly and requires multiple injections of insulin daily or a continuous infusion of insulin through a pump. Insulin, however, is not a cure for diabetes, nor does it prevent its eventual and devastating complications, which may include kidney failure, blindness, heart disease, stroke, and amputation.
Since its founding in 1970 by parents of children with type 1 diabetes, JDRF has awarded more than $1.3 billion to diabetes research, including more than $156 million in FY2008. In FY2008, the Foundation funded 1,000 centers, grants and fellowships in 22 countries. http://www.jdrf.org
About Motorcraft
Motorcraft(R) offers a complete line of original equipment-approved parts that are recommended and approved by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to underhood and powertrain repairs, Motorcraft parts offer exceptional value with the highest quality and right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available locally and are backed nationwide by Ford Motor Company's Service Parts Limited Warranty. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com.
About Quick Lane
Quick Lane(R) provides automotive quick services for all makes and models. Quick Lane's(R) nationwide network of over 500 facilities provides the convenience of an aftermarket company (no appointment necessary, service while you wait, evening and weekend hours, competitive prices) with the confidence of a major automotive manufacturer (quality parts, factory-trained technicians). Quick Lane(R) is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company. For more information, visit www.quicklane.com.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With more than 213,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's wholly owned brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.
Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing On the Web
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