DaimlerChrysler Fund Donates $100,000 to Mentor Pontiac Students

PONTIAC, Mich., June 23 -- Everyone encounters tough choices as they grow up. Unfortunately, the situations facing kids in urban areas are particularly challenging and too often have destructive consequences. To reach young people at a critical age -- before they enter high school -- DaimlerChrysler has partnered with the Pontiac Alumni Foundation and Pontiac Schools to institute a unique mentoring program for eighth grade Pontiac students.

"Positive role models can make a huge difference in a child's life," said Frank Fountain, DaimlerChrysler Senior Vice President - External Affairs and Public Policy (Auburn Hills). "A mentor can help open doors, allowing a young person to see the opportunities beyond his or her immediate neighborhood. The DaimlerChrysler Corporation Fund's investment of $100,000 in the Pontiac community will make it possible for hundreds of local students to gain a new friend and mentor."

The DaimlerChrysler Corp. Fund provided a "challenge" grant to the Pontiac Alumni Foundation to institute a student mentoring program. The Foundation was challenged to raise over $160,000 of resources to support the initiative. The Pontiac Alumni Foundation met the goal and is receiving $100,000 from the DaimlerChrysler Corp. Fund at a reception tonight at Oakland Schools.

All four Pontiac middle schools will participate in the mentoring program during the 2004-2005 school year. Mentors are being recruited from the local community and from the senior classes at Pontiac Central and Pontiac Northern High Schools. Interested adults are encouraged to contact the Pontiac Alumni Foundation at 248-451-6879 for more information and mentor applications.

"We want kids to focus on the opportunity in the schoolhouse for success rather than the jailhouse and failure," said Judge Fred Mester, founder of the Pontiac Alumni Foundation. "This is a unique approach, bringing together business, education and community leaders to reach out to young people and provide another level of support and encouragement beyond the home and classroom."

The mentoring program aims to improve student achievement, attendance and self-esteem while decreasing destructive behaviors such as drug and alcohol abuse.

The DaimlerChrysler Corp. Fund is the primary source of charitable grants made by DaimlerChrysler. Now in its 51st year, the Fund annually supports hundreds of charitable organizations throughout the United States and, increasingly around the world.