Celebrated musician Harry Connick, Jr. and triathlete Sarah Reinertsen will appear in the most recent installments of the Lincoln 'Dreams' advertising campaign, with the first of the two ads debuting this weekend during NBC's NFL broadcast. The two new spots, titled "Hometown" featuring Connick and the Lincoln MKX, and "Runner," featuring Reinersten and the Lincoln MKZ, were designed to showcase individuals that share Lincoln brand values including optimism, drive and the American spirit.
"Lincoln is honored to be working with both Harry Connick, Jr. and Sarah Reinertsen," said Mike Richards, general marketing manager, Lincoln Mercury. "They embody Lincoln's brand qualities, such as Harry's authentic effort to give back to his hometown, and Sarah's continued perseverance to reach higher. Their stories help to reinforce Lincoln's brand appeal, while our products are the perfect reward to celebrate their achievements."
The "Hometown" ad was shot during Connick's return to his hometown of New Orleans to break ground on a new music center and help build Musicians' Village, a Habitat for Humanity project conceived by Connick and fellow musician Branford Marsalis after Hurricane Katrina consisting of 70 single-family homes for displaced musicians and others affected by the storm. The ad features Connick driving through town in a 2008 Lincoln MKX reminiscing about growing up and becoming a musician, and the importance of remembering your roots and giving back. The ad ends with a celebration at Musicians' Village and Connick saying, "My dream is to get the good times rolling again in my hometown."
"The team at Lincoln is very committed to highlighting Musicians' Village - a project that's hugely important to me," said Connick, Jr. in regards to his experience shooting the commercial. "I like what the Lincoln 'Dreams' campaign stands for and I felt that we share the same values."
The spot titled "Runner" features Sarah Rienertsen, the first female amputee to compete and conquer the Ford Ironman Triathlon Kona, a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run. The ad begins with Reinertsen driving through the streets of New York in a Lincoln MKZ thinking about her aspirations. The ad concludes with Reinertsen stepping out of the vehicle, revealing her prosthetic left leg to the viewer, and joining several other runners for a marathon through the city. The commercial ends with Sarah saying, "My dream is to do extraordinary things everyday."
Ford's Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts
Ford Motor Company, Ford Fund and employees donated more than $6.5 million to aid areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina.
Efforts included donating 275 vehicles and sending a mobile command center unit to St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, to facilitate communications between various law enforcement agencies. The mobile command center also served as the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's office.
Some Ford volunteers donated their time working in the areas hardest hit by the hurricane, while others partnered with groups like Habitat for Humanity to help provide shelter to families affected by the storm. In addition, more than 1,300 Ford volunteers staffed phones in 18 call centers throughout the United States to accept nearly $1.5 million in donations for the Salvation Army and American Red Cross hurricane relief efforts as part of a nationwide telethon. Ford was the only automotive company to participate.
In recognition of its efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Ford received a U.S. Chamber of Commerce award.
About Lincoln
Award-winning new products are behind the resurgence of the Lincoln brand. The Lincoln MKX crossover, Lincoln MKZ sedan, and Lincoln Navigator have helped the brand achieve 12 months in a row of higher retail sales, for a total increase of 17-percent for the year.
The Lincoln MKX, the brand's first crossover and already the segment winner of AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award, is designed to appeal to a new generation of luxury customers. It features a luxurious car-like ride, all-wheel drive capability, a powerful and fuel efficient engine, and it has been recognized by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety as a 'Top Safety Pick.' The Lincoln MKZ, mid-size luxury sedan segment winner of the J.D. Power Initial Quality Survey (IQS), features a powerful 263-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 engine and is available with all-wheel-drive. The Lincoln MKZ has also been recognized as an "Interior of the Year" award winner in the premium sedan segment by Ward's AutoWorld, along with the Lincoln Navigator in the premium truck segment. The Lincoln Mark LT pickup has also been recognized for outstanding quality in its segment winning a J.D. Power IQS Award. The 2008 models are currently available in Lincoln dealerships nationwide. For more information on the Lincoln products, please visit www.lincoln.com.