OAKVILLE, Ontario, September 11, 2009 – Ford employees today were able to load more than nine Lincoln MKT vehicles with donated items, as well as plant more than 60 trees and shrubs at a nearby park as part of Ford's Global Week of Caring.

Employees at Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited were challenged to "Load-a-Lincoln" with items that would have the greatest impact for people in need. Ford's Canadian headquarters in Oakville, Ont., were able to load five Lincoln MKT vehicles, Oakville Assembly Complex (OAC) was able to load three MKT vehicles and Ford's office in Edmonton filled an additional MKT.

The United Way of Oakville, which provides funding to more than 30 local human and social services agencies, was chosen to help distribute the donations to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton, Community Youth Programs and Oakville Literacy Council, to name a few.

The Ronald McDonald House Northern Alberta and the Kiwanis Boys Club of Hamilton also received donations.

“United Way of Oakville is so grateful to partner with Ford for the second year in a row with this initiative. The generous donations from the Ford employees help so many people right here in the community as well as build awareness of the needs that do exist in Oakville,” said Barbara Burton, United Way of Oakville CEO.

Donated items included non-perishable food, new and gently used clothing and winter jackets, school supplies, used sports equipment, toiletries, gently used books, DVDs and CDs.

"Ford and its employees have a long history of giving back to the community," said David Mondragon, president and CEO, Ford of Canada. "It is the right thing to do not only for our business, but for the communities in which we live and work."

Along with the "Load-a-Lincoln" challenge, employees at Ford of Canada's headquarters were able to go green by planting 60 trees and shrubs at Kingsford Park in Oakville, Ont. as part of "Ford's Drive Green Project." Oakvillegreen, a non-profit, non-partisan environmental organization advocating for policies and initiatives to make the community healthy and resilient, provided the plant materials.

"Planting trees is one of the best things you can do for the environment, plus it is a fabulous gift to future generations. Oakvillegreen is pleased to be working with Ford employees to plant native trees and shrubs in the Clearview community," said Liz Benneian, president Oakvillegreen Conservations Association.

The fourth annual Ford Global Week of Caring runs from September 5-12, 2009. During this worldwide effort Ford volunteers on six continents will come together as One Ford to help create a better world. Last year during Global Week of Caring, more than 8,000 Ford volunteers helped provide essential medical and dental care in the Philippines, renovated a home for children in Mexico and repaired orphanages in South Africa and Vietnam.

For information on Global Week of Caring visit www.volunteer.ford.com.