Ford announced its most rewarding first quarter since 1998, with $2.6 billion in earnings on global sales of $33.1 billion. The earnings are up 22 percent versus the first quarter of 2010, while sales increased by $5 billion for the quarter. This large increase in sales was the biggest driver for the overall profit, as the Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker moved 1.4 million units in Q1 2011, up 16 percent versus Q1 2010.

Most of Ford’s profit came from moving vehicles here in North America, where $1.8 billion in total earnings were bolstered by improved sales and lower incentive spending. Ford also managed to eek out a $293 million profit in Europe, which posted a loss in the fourth quarter of, 2010. In all, Ford managed $2.8 billion in operating profit, and $2.1 billion of that money came from automotive operations. Ford Credit earned $713 million on the quarter.

Further good news comes on the debt front, as Ford managed to pay down its debt by $2.5 billion during Q1 while also increasing liquidity by $2.8 billion. That means Ford has a much larger cushion in the event the industry’s economic situation once again takes a turn for the worse, while also paying less money in interest. Ford eliminated $1 billion in annual interest costs in 2010.

Ford’s outstanding quarter took analysts by surprise, as the projections of a 50 cents-per-share profit was demolished by a 61 cents-per-share reality. As a result, Ford shares are up four percent in early Tuesday trading.

[Sources: Ford, The Detroit News | Image: Chris Shunk/AOL]

WHAT: “Thousand Hearts” Japan Relief Benefit Concert, Presented by Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.
featuring Hiroshima and Quest Crew

WHO: JETAP (Japanese Earthquake & Tsunami Aid Project)

WHERE: Pasadena Civic Auditorium, 300 E. Green St., Pasadena 91101

WHEN: Saturday, April 23, 2011 at 7 pm with red carpet arrivals at 5 pm

TICKETS: $20 – $40 – $60 www.ThousandHearts.org

Pasadena, CA: The “Thousand Hearts” Japan Relief Benefit Concert, presented by Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. will take place on Saturday, April 23 at 7 p.m. at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. The concert will be headlined by the Grammy-nominated band Hiroshima, a jazz and pop band, who will headline the “Thousand Hearts” Japan earthquake relief concert. Quest Crew, winner of MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew, Season 3, will also bring a great mix of humor, musicality, high-flying and eye-popping tricks, innovative choreography and personality that will bring the audience to their feet. Also performing will be the thundering sounds of the nationally and internationally premiere taiko group TaikoProject.

Mark Dacascos (Iron Chef America, Food Network), actor Lou Diamond Phillips, and actress Julia Ling (Chuck, NBC) are scheduled to appear along with a host of celebrities who will be walking the red carpet.

Net proceeds will go directly to assist the people in the hardest hit areas of the Fukushima, Iwate and Miyagi Prefectures and Sendai.

The devastating earthquake and Tsunami hit Japan. Patty Kinaga, a Pasadena resident was a former delegate of the Japanese American Leadership Delegation to Japan sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since then she has taken her responsibility of what she can do to strengthen the bridge between Japan and the United States seriously. In the day following the Japan disaster, Patty had her television set on NHK, a Japanese channel to keep abreast of what was happening while emailing and contacting various people, including talking to the Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles on what she could do.

Patty’s 6 year-old daughter Emily was sitting on the bed, watching the images on television and listening to her mother’s side of various telephone conversation. Emily had first heard of the story about the Thousand Origami Cranes from June Kuramoto, one of the founding members of Hiroshima and a very good friend of the family who is teaching Emily the Koto. Her Auntie June has a beautiful song she co-wrote with Derek Nakamoto called “A Thousand Cranes”, a stirring ballad. Sadako Sasaki was a young girl in Japan who because of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima during World War II was dying from leukemia. Based on the ancient Japanese legend, Sadako started to fold origami cranes because the legend says anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes and holds them together by string will be granted a wish by a crane. Sadako wanted to get her health back. Unfortunately, she passed away. As a result of her death, Sakako’s classmates started a movement to raise money for a statute in memory of her and the children who died from the atomic bomb. From that a monument was erected at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park to honor her and the other children who died with the words “This is our Cry. This is our prayer. Peace in the World.” Since then, the thousand cranes has become a symbol of peace. Emily had heard this story from her Auntie June and remembered it as she was listening to her mother’s telephone conversations.

Emily then said to her mother: “Mommy, can’t we do something for the children in Japan. Can we make connecting paper hearts and write messages to send to the children of Japan”? When Patty recounts this story, it brings tears to her eyes to realize the love and care that her daughter has for humanity. Upon more discussion, they decided to do something to help Japan and the children and would call their project a “Thousand Hearts” – Patty & Emily gave a big high five to each other and Patty took the lead in creating the Japan Earthquake & Tsunami Relief Benefit Concert. “Thousands Hearts” concert is to create a multi-cultural, multi-generational effort, reaching out to each other that we may reach out to the people of Japan – Heart to Heart.

As past president of the Japanese American Bar Association, Patty started with contacting and organizing bar associations, which helped her to mobilize this event. She called upon her friend Pasadena City Councilmember Steve Madison for his help, the first member of the Thousand Heart Blue Ribbon Committee along with Mayor Bill Bogaard and as of this writing Councilmembers Jacque Robinson, Margaret McAustin and Steve Haderlein. Rick Barr, General Manager of the Pasadena Civic Auditorium says “We are happy to be hosting this meaningful event for the people of Japan.”

The 700-member Pasadena Bar Association was one of the first groups to support this event. According to Ambassador Lisa Tan, Esq. “It’s impossible not to be moved by the images of devastation and the dignity and grace the Japanese people have shown in the aftermath of the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear crisis. No country is rich enough to recover from a disaster of this magnitude without the help of others. The Pasadena Bar Association is proud to be a part of JETAP and the Thousand Hearts Japan Relief Benefit Concert and their efforts to raise money for the hardest hit areas in Japan.” And to help this cause, Pasadena based nonprofit Pacific Film Currents with Chair Chester Hashizume is the Fiscal Sponsor for this program.

In the aftermath of Japan’s tragedy, this special concert has been organized by a multi-cultural coalition of bar associations and community groups, including the Japanese American Bar Association, the Mexican American Bar Association, the Langston Bar Association, the national Hispanic, Asian and African American bar associations, the Pasadena Bar Association and a host of community organizations. www.thousandhearts.org.

The Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami Aid Project (JETAP), the concert host, is an informal coalition of members from ethnically-diverse professional and community associations throughout California. Tickets are $20, $40, and $60.

Emily is a student at Mayfield and resides in Pasadena with her mother Patty, father Peter and brother Brandon, a 4th grader at Mayfield. Along with learning the Koto, she is also taking piano lessons and is an artist. We hope that everyone will help Emily fulfill her wish to help the children of Japan and attend this benefit concert for an evening of enchantment through music, people and lots of heart!

Wilson Automotive Group on Facebook

Wilson Automotive Group on Twitter

Courtesy of ci.pasadena.ca.us

Most of us have spent the last couple of weeks absorbing the news reports from Japan and struggling to understand the massive scale of the disaster unfolding there. As we watch the tragic events from half a world away, we are stunned by the devastation and suffering.

The Japanese people are not just our allies. They are also our business partners and dear friends. The American arms of our Japanese manufacturers have already donated generously to relief efforts. And dealers are looking for ways to do the same.

The Wilson Automotive Group is matching all employee donations to a guaranteed total of $25,000.

If you, too, would like to help, please go to http://american.redcross.org.

Thank you for participating in this relief effort. The Japanese people have always exhibited warmth, generosity and hospitality to their American friends. Now, in their time of great need, certainly we Americans can return that kindness and support.

You don’t need to spend Porsche prices to get a new car with a bit of pep. Forbes worked with Edmunds to put together this list of the ten quickest new cars for under $30,000.

Some, like the Ford Mustang GT and Subaru WRX, are pretty obvious — but who knew the Honda Accord coupe with a manual was a tenth of a second faster than the Mazdaspeed3? Let’s find out what other “cheap” cars made Edmunds’ 0-to-60 cut.

1.) Ford Mustang GT
0-60: 4.8 seconds
Price: $29,145

2.) Subaru Impreza WRX
0-60: 5.2 seconds
Price: $25,495

3.) Ford Mustang V6
0-60: 5.6 seconds
Price: $22,145

4.) Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart
0-60: 5.8 seconds
Price: $27,695

5.) Hyundai Genesis 3.8 R-Spec Coupe
0-60: 5.9 seconds
Price: $26,750

6.) Honda Accord Coupe EX-L
0-60: 6.3 seconds
Price: $29,730

7.) Mazda Mazdaspeed 3
0-60: 6.4 seconds
Price: $23,700

8.) Mazda6 s Grand Touring
0-60: 6.4 seconds
Price: $29,320

9.) Kia Optima SX
0-60: 6.5 seconds
Price: $25,995

10.) Hyundai Sonata SE
0-60: 6.6 seconds
Price: $24,345

**Yes, we know the Camaro V6 should be on this list — but we didn’t create it. By our numbers, it should slot in right below the Genesis R-Spec Coupe. Go bitch at Edmunds and Forbes for not including it.**

Courtesy of Jalopnik.com