DaimlerChrysler Services Employees Transfer Financial Knowledge to Pontiac Students

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., April 20 -- DaimlerChrysler Services, the financing unit of DaimlerChrysler, has partnered with the Pontiac School District to institute a unique Financial Health Workshop for 11th and 12th grade Pontiac students to strengthen financial literacy.

To reach young people at a critical age -- prior to their first credit card offers -- and in support of Detroit's celebration of Money Smart Week, April 17-26, DaimlerChrysler Services continues its commitment toward consumer education initiatives. DaimlerChrysler Services is investing time, talent and energy in the Pontiac community, making it possible for hundreds of students to become more financially savvy.

"As a member of the community, we feel it's a part of our social commitment to encourage financial responsibility, especially with our young people," said Klaus Entenmann, President and Chief Executive Officer - DaimlerChrysler Services North America. "This financial education program is aimed at reaching out to young people and helping them with the basics of money management that they can use for a lifetime."

DaimlerChrysler Services African-American Network (DSAAN), an internal employee resource group, initiated the Financial Health Workshop. DSAAN reached out to support the Pontiac School District in a pilot program for the 2004-2005 school year. Additionally, DSAAN engaged a cross-functional employee team within DaimlerChrysler Services headquarters in Farmington Hills and the Troy Customer Contact Center to donate their time and talents in presenting the Financial Health Workshop to those students.

Both Pontiac high schools, Central and Northern, will be participating again in the Financial Health Workshop during the 2005-2006 school year. Employee volunteers have been recruited from local DaimlerChrysler Services business units for Pontiac Central and Pontiac Northern high schools.

"This is a unique financial education approach, aimed at supporting educators within the school system by building these financial workshops into the schools' existing Economics curriculum," said Dr. Mildred Mason, Superintendent -- Pontiac School District. "We commend the DaimlerChrysler Services employees who volunteer to transfer their financial knowledge to help our students understand the importance of good money management."

The Financial Health Workshop consists of six modules designed to develop financially responsible young adults:

  *  Your Credit and How Finance Companies See You
  *  Getting a Good Start
  *  Spending with a Purpose
  *  The Smart Way to Use Credit Cards
  *  Building Steps to Good Credit
  *  The Next Steps to a Successful Credit Path

One of the key objectives for DaimlerChrysler Services is to educate consumers about the vehicle financing process and provide educational direction to help consumers make informed financial decisions.

Dr. Mildred Mason, Superintendent -- Pontiac School District, will be available Thursday, April 21 at 8 a.m. at Pontiac Northern High School to comment on the DaimlerChrysler Services Financial Health Workshops.

About DaimlerChrysler Services North America LLC

DaimlerChrysler Services North America LLC provides brand-specific financing for automotive dealers' inventories and their retail consumers and does business as Chrysler Financial and Mercedes-Benz Credit. As DaimlerChrysler Services Truck Finance it also finances commercial vehicles for affiliate products such as Freightliner, Sterling and Western Star. The company serves as the headquarters for the operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, South America and Puerto Rico and has over 5,800 employees who manage a portfolio of more than $95 billion with nearly five million contracts. DaimlerChrysler Services North America is a member of the DaimlerChrysler Services Group, headquartered in Berlin, Germany, which operates in 39 countries with an employee base exceeding 11,000 and a global portfolio of $139 billion. DaimlerChrysler Services is one of the leading financial services companies worldwide.