Ford Freedom Award Fundraiser Hits High Note by Honoring Ella Fitzgerald and Al Jarreau for Contributions to the Arts

l Gala Celebrating Honorees Benefits the Museum of African American History
l Jarreau to Deliver Keynote Address at Freedom Award Scholar's Lecture

(AANEWSWIRE)DETROIT, Mich., May 22, 2005 - Ford Motor Company and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History will honor 2005 Ford Freedom Award recipient Ella Fitzgerald and Ford Freedom Award Scholar Al Jarreau during a black-tie gala at the Museum on Tuesday, May 24 at 6 p.m. Now in its seventh year, Ford Freedom Award proceeds support the Museum's educational programs, exhibits, and community outreach initiatives.

The Ford Freedom Award, created in 1999, is presented posthumously to distinguished individuals who dedicated their lives to improving the African American community and the world in general. A brass plate bearing Fitzgerald's name will be added to the Museum's Ring of Genealogy, the centerpiece of the Ford Freedom Rotunda lobby, and will be unveiled during the awards program. Fitzgerald's son, Ray Brown Jr., will accept the award on her behalf.

The Ford Freedom Award Scholar honor is bestowed upon a living individual who has demonstrated excellence in the field of the award recipient. Jarreau will speak to nearly 1,700 students, including winners of the Ford Freedom Award Essay Contest hosted by Detroit Newspapers in Education, at the Ford Freedom Award Scholar's Lecture on Wednesday, May 25 at 11 a.m. The event will be held at Detroit's Music Hall.

"Ford is proud to partner with the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in celebrating the accomplishments of Ella Fitzgerald and Al Jarreau," said Ziad Ojakli, Group Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Ford Motor Company. "The success of these two extraordinary individuals illustrates the ability music has to bring people together. The Ford Freedom Award is an extension of our company's commitment to diversity and inclusion, and we applaud Ms. Fitzgerald and Mr. Jarreau for using their talents to build bridges and promote unity throughout the world."

"The Museum thanks Ford Motor Company for its continuing support of the Ford Freedom Award," said Christy Coleman, president and CEO of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. "With support from corporations like Ford, we will continue to thrive and serve the community by providing exhibitions and educational programs, so that people of all ages and backgrounds can learn about African American history and culture."

Dubbed the "First Lady of Song," Ella Jane Fitzgerald was the most popular female jazz singer in the United States for more than half a century. During her lifetime, she sold over 40 million albums and won 13 Grammy awards. Born in Newport News, Virginia, Fitzgerald began singing after impressing the audience at the Apollo Theater's Amateur Night in 1934. She could imitate every instrument in an orchestra and worked with all the jazz greats, from Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Nat King Cole to Frank Sinatra, Dizzy Gillespie, and Benny Goodman. She performed at top venues all over the world, and her audiences were as diverse as her vocal range. Fitzgerald received the National Medal of Arts, France's Commander of Arts and Letters Award, Kennedy Center Honors, and numerous honorary doctorates for her continuing contributions to the arts. She died on June 15, 1996.

The unique vocal style and innovative musical expressions of singer/songwriter Al Jarreau have made him one of the most exciting and critically acclaimed performers of our time, earning him five Grammy Awards, numerous international music awards, and accolades worldwide. His artistry began in his childhood home of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Jarreau, the son of a minister/foundry worker, sang with his brothers. His recording career exploded with his debut album "We Got By" (1975), and a progression of successful albums earned him superstar status and an international following. Jarreau is the only singer ever to have won Best Vocalist Grammys in three separate and distinct categories (jazz, R&B, and pop). He released his latest album, "Accentuate the Positive," in 2004.

Previous recipients include:

Year Ford Freedom Award
1999 Detroit Mayor Coleman A. Young
2000 Entertainer Sammy Davis, Jr.
2001 Writer Langston Hughes
2002 Baseball great Jackie Robinson
2003 Tuskegee Airman Gen. Daniel "Chappie" James, Jr.
2004 Educator/civil rights activist Benjamin Mays

Ford Freedom Award Scholar
Former U. N. Ambassador Andrew Young
Entertainer Gregory Hines
Poet Sonia Sanchez
Hall of Fame member Reggie Jackson
NASA astronaut Mae C. Jemison
Educator/philanthropist/actor Bill Cosby

Along with Ford Motor Company, key sponsors also include DaimlerChrysler, Comerica, and Compuware.

The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, founded in 1965, is the world's largest institution dedicated to preserving African American history and culture. The Museum is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., and on Sunday from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. For general information about the Museum, call (313) 494-5800.

Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, supports programs that enhance and enrich the communities where Ford Motor Company does business. Ford Motor Company Fund is committed to creating educational opportunities that stimulate creativity and promote cultural diversity. In 2004, Ford Motor Company Fund contributed more than $50 million to educational pipeline initiatives and cultural programs, including nationally touring exhibitions and performing arts events. For more information on programs made possible by Ford Motor Company Fund, visit www.ford.com.

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