Ford announces Junior Diabetes design winner

SIX-YEAR-OLD IS WINNING JDRF DESIGNER; SPECIALLY DESIGNED FORD FUNNY CAR UNVEILED IN INDIANAPOLIS

* Ford Customer Service Division (FCSD) unveiled the winning JDRF car design that will be featured on the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang driven by Bob Tasca III at this weekend's U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis

* Samuel Millard, a six-year-old from Greenville, Texas, and member of the Greater Dallas Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, was announced as the winning designer today in downtown Indianapolis.

INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 28, 2008 -- Sam Millard, a six-year-old from Texas, saw his winning JDRF design on the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang for the first time today, as his "Imagine a Cure" theme was unveiled in front of a lunchtime crowd in downtown Indianapolis.

Millard, a resident of Greenville, Texas, and member of the Greater Dallas JDRF Chapter, helped unveil his car with Al Giombetti from Ford Customer Service Division, at Monument Circle. His design for the JDRF-themed Funny Car was applied to the Shelby Mustang of Bob Tasca III for the NHRA U.S. Nationals to be held this weekend in Indianapolis.

"Sometimes when mommy and daddy check if my blood sugar is high or low, I can feel my heart beating in my finger," said Millard on what inspired his car design. "I don't want to feel that anymore, so I want JDRF to win and find a cure."

On hand at the event were Giombetti, executive director, Ford Customer Service Division; Nancy Lonsinger, JDRF board president, Indiana state; Bob Tasca III, driver of the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang which will carry Millard's paint scheme; and Millard's parents, Bart and Shannon.

JDRF design "Imagine a Cure" contest: winner Shannon Millard, Bart Millard, Sam Millard, Bob Tasca III, Al Giombetti, Geoff Smith.

Photo by Ford Motor Company.

"All of us at Ford Motor Company are proud we are the largest corporate supporter of JDRF, and we're also proud to be able to offer unique ways to help JDRF raise funds to find a cure. "

Millard was one of 307 child designers from around the country whose paint schemes raised $84,542 for research to find a cure for type 1 diabetes. Millard himself raised $6,801.

"To have Sam see his design on our racecar for the first time today was just really special," said Tasca. "I am so proud to be a part of this great contest with Ford and JDRF, and look forward to putting Sam's design in the winner's circle this weekend."

"I just want to thank the Ford Motor Company for what they did for JDRF through this design contest," said Lonsinger. "JDRF is very proud to have the support of Ford, and are thrilled to see the end result of this contest with Sam's design on the race car."

As the winner of the design contest, Millard will spend Friday at the track with the Tasca Racing team as an honorary crew member, and he and his family will get to see his car design run during qualifications for the U.S. Nationals.

-credit: motorcraft