Ford Motor Company and United Auto Workers Joint Fund Announce $50,000 Donation and Volunteer Labor to Build 25 Wheelchair Ramps for Disabled Louisville Residents

LOUISVILLE, Ky., October 30, 2012 – Ford Motor Company and UAW Local 862 announced today a $50,000 donation to the Metro United Way for the Wayne Vickers Memorial Wheel Chair Ramp Project in Louisville to build 25 wheelchair ramps for disabled residents across the city. In addition to the monetary donations, a team of more than 50 UAW volunteers are planning to provide over 2,000 hours of labor to construct the wheelchair ramps.

Funding for the wheelchair ramp materials has been raised by the employees from Kentucky Truck Plant and the Louisville Assembly Plant. Each ramp is constructed out of treated wood and metal materials and costs between $1,000 and $3,000.

The Ramp Project was established this year to encourage the construction of wheel chair ramps for disabled workers in the Louisville community. Recipients of the program are chosen by The Center for Accessible Living.

The announcement was made at a residential home in the southwest of Louisville, where UAW members were finishing construction on the program's 10th wheelchair ramp. In addition to Ford Labor Affairs Vice-President Marty Mulloy and United Auto Workers Vice-President Jimmy Settles, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer attended and expressed pride in the project.

“Ford is committed to making a difference in the communities where we do business,” said Marty Mulloy, Ford vice president of Labor Affairs, North America Manufacturing. “We are proud to work with our UAW partners to help local families have greater mobility and self-sufficiency through this project.”

“These ramps will make a huge difference in the lives of the recipients -- they are paths to productivity and inclusiveness,” Fischer said. “This partnership between UAW-Ford, Metro United Way and the Center for Accessible Living is exactly the kind of creative compassion and effective coalitions we are working to build in Louisville.”

"The joint contribution from the rich history of UAW-Ford clearly is a reflection of a successful partnership at its best," said United Auto Workers Vice-President Jimmy Settles. "As we have been a part of the community, we find it fitting to give back to the community. We wouldn't have it any other way."

Region 8 UAW Director Gary Casteel expressed that the UAW has continued the proud tradition in helping all citizens within our communities. “It is the Joint Leadership Team between UAW and Ford that benefits by being able to thank our volunteer members and company officials for their efforts which ultimately enrich the lives of those in need," said Casteel.

"This project is making a difference in our community and is a perfect example of the collaboration between the UAW/Ford joint program initiative and the Metro United Way, working together with the Center for Accessible Living,” said Center for Accessible Living Director Jan Dan. ”These citizens within our community would not have benefited had it not been for this wonderful program.”

“Metro United Way is proud to involved with this important project to improve lives in our community”, said Joe Tolan, president and CEO of Metro United Way. “And, we’re especially proud and thankful for our many years of partnership with Ford and the UAW. It takes all of us, working together, to make a difference…and that’s what it means to Live United.”

Ford/UAW Local 862 Joint Fund donations to Louisville area organizations supporting children and education, veterans, health, hunger relief and tornado disaster relief are expected to top $1.2 million in 2012.

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 172,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.