July-31-08
Alarm Division

Goodwill Industries Teams with Woodward Dream Cruise for Event Cleanup Initiative

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Don Tanner
              248.626.0006

Royal Oak, Mich. – The Woodward Dream Cruise, the world’s largest one-day automotive event celebrating cruisin’ culture, announced today it will partner with Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit, which will provide staff and services to clean up after this year’s event. The initiative is being underwritten by Guardian Alarm Company.

For 2008, Goodwill will focus largely on Royal Oak and Berkley, including the area around the Cruise epicenter at Woodward and 13 Mile and Northwood Shopping Center—the site of this year’s “Dream Show.” Goodwill provides similar services for the Belle Isle Grand Prix and was praised for its cleanup efforts in Detroit around Super Bowl XL. The non-profit group also serves the Detroit Zoo with on-going maintenance services.

"The core mission of Goodwill Industries is putting people to work,” said Russ Russell, vice president, Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit. “Our experience with Clean Downtown and the Detroit Zoo make this a perfect partnership. Our local communities can expect Goodwill workers will be trained, trusted and ready to work on Saturday, August 16.”

Said Matt Fraiberg, vice president, Guardian Alarm Company: ““Like our organization, Goodwill has a long-standing history in Metro Detroit built on helping people. Our involvement in making this initiative happen makes our Dream Cruise sponsorship even more meaningful and important.”

“Each year, cleanup and public safety services around the Dream Cruise and its 16-mile route cost our nine host communities somewhere in the neighborhood of $350,000,” said Don Tanner, executive director, Woodward Dream Cruise. “Meanwhile, unemployment rates are at their highest in years. This partnership will be a win-win for all.”

Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit provides people who have disabilities and other barriers to employment with opportunities to become independent, self-supporting citizens through training, work experience and employment in the community. Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit is a Michigan Works! Affiliate funded in part by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth and Detroit Workforce Development Department. Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Goodwill uses the Michigan Relay Center (1-800-649-3777) to facilitate communication with the deaf.

For more than 75 years, Southfield-based Guardian Alarm Company is North America’s largest independent security and life-safety company. Guardian offers commercial/residential fire and burglar alarms throughout Michigan, Ohio, Florida and Canada. They also offer guard services, and, medical monitoring nationwide.

The Woodward Dream Cruise is the world’s largest one-day celebration of car culture, attracting more than 1 million visitors and over 40,000 muscle cars, street rods, custom, collector and special interest vehicles. The 14^th annual Dream Cruise is scheduled for Saturday August 16, 2008. Visit www.woodwarddreamcruise.com.

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