Ford Motor Company To Receive Prestigious Award At Usher’s World Leadership Conference And Awards

July 19, 2011 - PRLog -- DEARBORN, MICH., July 19, 2011 – For the second consecutive year, Ford Motor Company will be a major sponsor of Usher’s New Look Foundation World Leadership Conference and Awards. This year’s World Leadership Conference will take place in Atlanta at the Cobb Galleria and Cobb Energy Centre from Wednesday, July 20 to Friday, July 22. The event will boast an amazing list of global leaders who will come out to show their support and help raise funds for Usher’s non-profit organization. Ford Motor Company will be honored for its outstanding work in the community at the prestigious event.

New Look will present Ford the Youth Catalyst Award at the conclusion of the conference on July 22. The Youth Catalyst Award is one of four distinct awards developed to recognize leading individuals, corporations and organizations that have contributed to youth leadership and service. Other award recipients this year include Ted Turner who will receive the Service Legacy Award, which last year was presented to President Bill Clinton.  Past award recipients include Justin Bieber who accepted the 2010 Global Youth Leader Award. Jim Vella, President, Ford Motor Company Fund will accept the award on behalf of Ford Motor Company.

“The efforts of the New Look Foundation closely align with Ford’s mission to empower youth to grow, develop and contribute to their communities,” said President of Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services Jim Vella. “On behalf of Ford Motor Company, I’d like to thank New Look for this recognition and look forward to continued collaboration with the organization.”

Ford Group Vice President, Human Resources and Corporate Services, Felicia Fields will deliver the keynote address at the conference's opening dinner which will host more than 450 youth on July 20. Fields’ remarks will focus on educating youth on key skills and attributes needed to succeed in the 21st century. The conference serves to give youth leaders around the globe a real world platform where they can develop global solutions to local problems.  Ford is the title sponsor of the opening night events.

“I congratulate Usher’s New Look Foundation for its passion to address the many challenges faced by today’s youth,” said Fields. “It is an honor to participate in a conference hosted by an artist who is dedicated to helping countless youth ignite positive change in their communities.”

Following the dinner, winners of the Ford Driving Skills for Life “Belt It Out” nationwide contest will participate on a panel themed, “How Music Can Change the World” with Usher and country singer superstar and Celebrity Apprentice winner John Rich. The purpose of the nationwide contest and promotion is to combat teen vehicle crashes and distracted driving. Vehicle accidents are the number one cause of teen deaths in the United States. The contest winners were voted on by the general public and New Look representatives selected the winners prior to the conference. First place team winners received an all-expense-paid trip to attend the 2011 World Leadership Conference, participate on the panel and a $5000 savings bond each.

New Look empowers more than 450 youth from around the country in areas of entrepreneurship and community service. Ford and New Look joined forces at the 2010 World Leadership Conference to educate teen drivers about the dangers of distracted driving—such as texting while driving—through the nationwide Ford Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) program.

"This is the second year Ford has been a major supporter of Usher's New Look Foundation", said Shawn Wilson, Executive Director, Usher's New Look Foundation.  "We are thrilled to continue our work to empower youth for the future and to honor Ford with the 2011 Youth Catalyst Award.