12.19.2000 ET

(CSRwire) For the eighth year, Ford Motor Company and St. Jude's Ranch for Children are teaming up to collect used greeting cards for recycling - and they're counting on visitors from the 2001 North American International Auto Show in Detroit to help.

The children's charity recycles the old cards into new cards for sale throughout the year. The St. Jude's children will cut, trim, and paste the fronts of the used cards onto new backings, and sell them as a fund-raiser for the non-profit, non-sectarian group's program for abandoned and neglected children and teens.

"Ford is the single largest contributor of cards to our 'Learn-to Earn' program which helps to break that welfare syndrome. It gives disadvantaged children a second chance," explains Father William Cantrell, St. Jude's executive director.

Over the past eight years, Ford has contributed more than two-and-a-half million cards for the charity, which is the largest collection by any company or organization in the 30-year history of the program. This year, Ford volunteers are also working to help sell thousands of recycled cards to raise money for the children.

"Recycled greeting cards are just another example of our broad commitment to protecting the environment through recycling efforts," explains Andy Acho, director of Environmental Outreach and Strategy for Ford Motor Company. "This program is not only helping Mother Nature, but the children from St. Jude as well. It instills a work ethic and the children derive self-esteem by turning something of little use into a valuable commodity."

Ford is in the final year of a 4-year, $200,000 Challenge Grant to help St. Jude's expand nationally and build additional campuses. As result of the Ford Challenge, other companies and foundations have similarly pledged millions of dollars.

This year, the collection team from Nevada - consisting of six children and their adult chaperons will be collecting cards from visitors in the Ford Motor Company Trustmark area of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Ford volunteers help collect cards not only from plant and office employees nationwide, but also from its suppliers and overseas facilities as well.

"People everywhere are recognizing the many benefits of this program," said Acho. "We receive calls frequently checking the status of the program for the upcoming auto show in Detroit. People send cards from all across the nation to show their support. In 2000, we collected more than a half million cards, primarily from our employees and visitors to the auto show."

Individuals wishing to purchase the recycled cards from St. Jude's - both holiday and all-occasion cards are available - should write to St. Jude's Ranch for Children, P.O. Box 60100, Boulder City, Nevada, 89006-0100; order by phone at 800-492-3562; or visit the website at www.stjudesranch.org.