The Ford Motor Company announced in Beijing Tuesday the winners of the 2003 Ford Motor Conservation and Environmental Grants with over 1 million yuan (US$125,000) in grants awarded to 13 grassroots environmental heroes from across China.  

"After winning the grant, I can now find better means to rescue the big swans. I am determined to do my part in helping China's wildlife protection cause," said Yuan Xueshun, a prize winner who has devoted 30 years to rescuing swans.

As one of the world's largest-scale environmental grants, tens of thousands of environmentally conscious individuals and groups from every part of the world have benefited from the program. The Ford Motor Conservation and Environmental Grant Program got its China start in 2000 and over the past three years, 49 groups and individuals have won grants.

(Xinhua News Agency November 19, 2003)