Ford Shoots And Scores At 2006 Ciaa Tournament

CHARLOTTE, Mar. 2, 2006 – Whenever CIAA basketball tournament fans get together, there’s bound to be fun in the air and Ford wants to help everyone celebrate.

Ford is the exclusive automotive sponsor for the 2006 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Basketball Tournament and Ford Finals Night, Mar. 1-4. Ford will continue to play an instrumental role in improving the academic outlook for CIAA students by awarding over $100,000 in scholarships and providing them a chance to win a hot new 2006 Ford Fusion.

Ford also will be enhancing this year’s tournament by pumping up fans at the Fan Experience.

The Ford sponsored event is open to the public at the Charlotte Convention Center on Mar. 2-4. Ford’s participation will include various interactive games and activities including opportunities to win I-Pods and other prizes. The event will also feature performances from artists such as American Idol winner Fantasia and a live taping of the Steve Harvey Morning Show presented by Budweiser.

These latest CIAA efforts highlight Ford’s commitment to actively give back and support Historic Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), continuing a tradition it began more than 40 years ago. The tournament is an excellent venue for Ford to use in helping bring families and friends together to enjoy the unique experiences that come from the spirited competition between these historic schools.

“Education is the great equalizer, a liberator,” Francisco Codina, Ford group vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service. “With these scholarships and 6 years of CIAA tournament support, Ford is helping shape the lives of young people by enabling them to receive a quality education and by providing excellent transportation to take the experiences they have learned to new places.”

The Free Throw Shoot-Out contest will take place at various regular season CIAA conference basketball games. Twelve students who win in these shoot-out qualifier rounds received an all-expense-paid trip for two to the 2006 CIAA tournament along with a $200 stipend and a chance to compete in the $10,000 final shoot-out during Ford Finals Night on Saturday, Mar. 4. The grand prize for the final shoot-out is a $5,000 educational scholarship. The runner-up will receive a $3,000 scholarship, third place a $1,500 scholarship, fourth place a $500 scholarship and the remaining nine contestants will walk away with $100 scholarships.

The twelve contestants for the Ford Fusion Fantastic Giveaway were selected from a random drawing held during the basketball season. They too received an all-expense-paid trip for two to the 2006 CIAA tournament along with $200 spending money. During Ford Finals night, each of these twelve contestants, along with three additional contestants selected during tournament week, will get a chance to win a 2006 Ford Fusion. Each contestant will randomly pull one key from a bowl of fifteen keys to see which has the winning key to start the Fusion.

The Ford CIAA Uptown Experience will welcome tournament fans with signage in downtown Charlotte. These signs, banners and kiosks will let everyone know that it’s tournament time throughout the city.

Ford Motor Company has supported HBCUs for more than 40 years through various grants, donations and scholarship funds. This year, Ford celebrates its sixth consecutive year of supporting the CIAA tournament with more than $600,000 in total donations. In 2006, Ford will continue its support of HBCUs through various new and longstanding sponsorships, donations, scholarships and educational programs.

Contact Information

Whitney E Drake

Car and Racing Manager Ford Division

Ford Motor Company

Contact via E-mail