The lobby of Ford Credit literally is brimming with a mountain of holiday gifts Dec. 7 as Ford Credit employees ring in the 2001 holiday season by providing more than 1,700 festively wrapped gifts for foster children.

Since 1984, Ford Credit has taken part in Operation Good Cheer, a program sponsored by Child and Family Services of Michigan, Inc. Ford Credit employees will join Ford Credit Chairman and CEO Donald Winkler to present this year's gifts to Sharon Vichcales, administrative director of Child and Family Services of Michigan, Inc. and coordinator of Operation Good Cheer.

"Ford Credit has been instrumental in fulfilling Christmas wishes for Operation Good Cheer," Vichcales said. "Without their dedication and donations, many children would be without gifts and feel left out during this holiday season."

"Santa Claus himself would be hard-pressed to beat the holiday giving spirit of Ford Credit's people," said Winkler. "I'm proud to be one of them."

As part of Operation Good Cheer, Michigan children in foster care made up their personal wish lists. Ford Credit employees "adopted" more than 583 of the children, buying and wrapping at least three gifts from each child's wish lists. Although donors never see the children they help, they spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to fulfill children's wishes.

"For 17 years, Ford Credit employees have sent gifts across Michigan to children in hopes that we will impact their lives for the better," said Jennifer Schmitz, Operation Good Cheer co-chair at Ford Credit. "We may not see their faces on Christmas morning but we can imagine their delight and take comfort in bringing the joy of the holidays to children who otherwise might not have reason to celebrate."

Several companies have provided vehicles, fuel, and drivers to gather the gifts from Ford Credit and other donors throughout the state and deliver them to Oakland County International Airport. There, they will be sorted and distributed in time for Christmas with the assistance of more than 100 volunteers.

Operation Good Cheer originated in 1971 when Ford Motor Company employees began pooling their money to donate funds to a worthy cause. That year, Ford Motor partnered with Child and Family Services of Michigan, Inc., and established Operation Good Cheer.

Ford Credit participates in several other charitable events throughout the year, including the Susan G. Komen Foundation's Race for the Cure event and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Global Walk. This year, Ford Credit raised more than $40,000 for the Red Cross' Sept. 11 Fund and more than $520,000 for the United Way.

About Ford Credit

Ford Credit is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company and is the world's largest automotive finance company.

Now in its 42nd year, Ford Credit provides vehicle financing in 40 countries to more than 10 million customers and more than 12,500 automotive dealers.

Ford Credit had total earnings of $1.5 billion in 2000, with a worldwide receivables base of more than $165 billion.

More information about Ford Credit can be found at www.fordcredit.com.