Ford Motor Company Fund is teaming up with Hope Now International and mobile testing provider HealthFair to offer free or low-cost advanced mobile breast cancer imaging to women in the Northwest. This tour is the first initiative under Ford Operation Goodwill Northwest, a joint effort with area Ford and Lincoln dealers designed to expand Ford’s engagement with local communities in the region, especially in the areas of women’s health, teen driving safety, education and hunger relief.

“We are committed to helping meet the growing community needs in this region,” said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “Ford Motor Company has been investing in our communities for decades, and we plan to expand our community engagement efforts in the Northwest.”

The Ford Women’s Health Initiative Mobile Breast Imaging Tour will launch in Seattle in October (National Breast Cancer Awareness Month), and travel throughout the Northwest. The tour will provide women with breast screening using a 40-foot, state-of-the-art mobile coach equipped with the latest technology in 3D breast cancer imaging from HealthFair.

The safe, comfortable ultrasound procedure provides consistent, accurate 3D images, regardless of breast density or implants. More than 40 percent of women have dense breasts, which increases their risk for breast cancer. Working with local health and community organizations, this service will be offered to participating women in need on a free or low-cost basis.

“We’re very pleased to provide this service to our Pacific Northwest community,” said Michael Doherty, chairman of the Northwest Ford Stores group. “Some of our local Ford members have been personally affected by breast cancer, so this effort is important to us.”

According to the Oregon Health Sciences University Knight Cancer Institute, breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women, and – although researchers do not yet know why – the Pacific Northwest has the highest rate of breast cancer in the United States.

While mammograms are instrumental in detecting breast cancer, studies suggest 15.5 million breast cancer cases go undetected or under-diagnosed every year.

Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services works with community partners to advance driving safety, education and American heritage and community life. The Ford Motor Company Fund has operated for more than 60 years with ongoing funding from Ford Motor Company. The award-winning Ford Driving Skills for Life program teaches new drivers through a variety of hands-on and interactive methods. Innovation in education is encouraged through national programs that enhance high school learning and provide college scholarships and university grants. Through the Ford Volunteer Corps, more than 27,000 Ford employees and retirees each year work on projects that better their communities in dozens of countries. For more information, visit http://community.ford.com.

“We are committed to helping meet the growing community needs in this region,” said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “Ford Motor Company has been investing in our communities for decades, and we plan to expand our community engagement efforts in the Northwest.”

The Ford Women’s Health Initiative Mobile Breast Imaging Tour will launch in Seattle in October (National Breast Cancer Awareness Month), and travel throughout the Northwest. The tour will provide women with breast screening using a 40-foot, state-of-the-art mobile coach equipped with the latest technology in 3D breast cancer imaging from HealthFair.

The safe, comfortable ultrasound procedure provides consistent, accurate 3D images, regardless of breast density or implants. More than 40 percent of women have dense breasts, which increases their risk for breast cancer. Working with local health and community organizations, this service will be offered to participating women in need on a free or low-cost basis.

The first breast imaging session will take place on the Eastside on Saturday, Oct. 1, in an event presented by Ford of Kirkland.

Amy Walen, Kirkland City Council member and Ford of Kirkland controller, has a personal reason to get involved with the Ford Women’s Health Initiative Mobile Breast Imaging Tour: “As a breast cancer survivor, preventive care is a top priority for me, so we’re thrilled to help support the first stop of the tour and work with Hopelink to identify women who could benefit from this service.”

“We’re very pleased to provide this service to our Pacific Northwest community,” said Michael Doherty, chairman of the Northwest Ford Stores group. “Some of our local Ford members have been personally affected by breast cancer, so this effort is important to us.”

According to the Oregon Health Sciences University Knight Cancer Institute, breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women, and – although researchers do not yet know why – the Pacific Northwest has the highest rate of breast cancer in the United States.

While mammograms are instrumental in detecting breast cancer, studies suggest 15.5 million breast cancer cases go undetected or under-diagnosed every year.

Components of the multi-year sponsorship agreement include:

• Presenting sponsor of out of town scores on Safeco Field’s new LED Out of Town Scoreboard,
• Prime advertising signage on the Out of Town Scoreboard (12’ 2” x 11’ 8” lighted “Built Ford Tough” sign on the right side of the scoreboard),
• One half inning per game on the home plate rotational signage,
• Title sponsor of the popular Hat Trick video board feature,
• Presenting sponsor for two weekend homestands during the season,
• Ford vehicle on display at Section 142 of the Main Concourse.

The Northwest Ford Dealers agreement also contains the first social media components of a sponsorship package for the Seattle Mariners.  Mariners pitcher Ryan Rowland-Smith and catcher Rob Johnson will drive various Ford vehicles over the course of the season.  Rowland-Smith, who has 5,215 followers on his Twitter feed http://twitter.com/hyphen18, will post comments about his driving experience.

“The Mariners and Ford have both been on a bit of a roll lately and this new partnership comes at a great time for both organizations.  We’re glad to welcome Ford to Safeco Field as one of our newest corporate sponsors,” said Bob Aylward, Executive Vice President Corporate Business, Seattle Mariners.

“As Chairman of the Northwest Ford Dealers I can say we are thrilled to be teamed with the Mariners.  It is a perfect union, the Mariners are coming off a great 2009, and have strengthened their lineup, as has Ford Motor Company.  We have quality that is second to none, and a lineup of vehicles that fit with the diversity of baseball fans.  From Hybrids, to family haulers, to work trucks, to horsepower, Ford has it all.  We are looking forward to a long partnership with the Mariners, and the first of many World Series crowns in 2010,” said D.J. Tapley, Skagit River Ford owner and Chairman of the Northwest Ford Dealers.

Fans will also get an up close experience with Ford products at 24 Mariners home games this season with the Street Team mobile multi-media exhibit.  The 40-foot long trailer, pulled by a Ford F-450, has computer kiosks with access to the Northwest Ford Stores website (www.compareford.com), two video gaming systems, flat-screen TV monitors and wheel and tire displays.  Each appearance by the Street Team will also feature 7-8 Ford vehicles all on display across from the Safeco Field Home Plate Gate for every Saturday and Sunday home game.