Ford Motor Company Group Vice President for Government and Community Relations Ziad Ojakli (right) hands over the keys for The Big Ride to NEA Director of The Big Read David Kipen as NEA Chairman Dana Gioia (far right) and Ford Motor Company Washington Counsel James W. Carroll, Jr. (far left) look on. The Big Read gives communities nationwide the opportunity to come together to read, discuss, and celebrate one of 23 selections from American and world literature. To help build awareness of The Big Read, the Ford Motor Company has donated a 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid to the program. With its colorful design featuring The Big Read's logo, the vehicle will help inspire new readers as Big Read program staff crisscross the country to attend and speak at Big Read events. Photo courtesy of National Endowment for the Arts.

For a high-resolution version of the photo please contact Paulette Beete at beetep@arts.gov