COLOGNE, Germany, April 2, 2020 – Ford Motor Company Fund today announced two new and unique opportunities for Ford employees around the world who are eager to give back while honouring stay-at-home recommendations.
The COVID-19 Donation Match programme is a combined effort between Ford Fund and Ford Motor Company Executive Chairman Bill Ford that will match $500,000 in donations to designated community organisations in the fight against COVID-19, raising a potential $1 million for groups battling the pandemic across the globe. In Europe, funds are being raised to support a wide range of organisations in Germany, Italy, Romania, Spain, Turkey and the UK.
Ford Fund is also launching a new “Read and Record” virtual volunteering project to create an online library of Ford employees reading children’s books for the 1.3 billion children and youth affected by school closures around the world.
“During trying times, Ford employees are used to being the boots on the ground – getting out, signing up and pitching in to help make a difference,” said Mary Culler, president, Ford Motor Company Fund. “Even now, while many are sheltering in place at home, our employees are looking for ways to help. These two new programmes offer meaningful ways for employees to give back and join in the fight against COVID-19.”
Make a donation to make a difference
Through the COVID-19 Donation Match, Ford Fund is giving Ford employees, as well as their families and friends, an opportunity to make a donation to support nonprofits and other community organisations in their efforts to meet coronavirus-related needs in more than 20 countries around the world.
Managed by GlobalGiving, Ford’s longtime disaster relief and global grant-making partner, the programme aims to support community projects in locations that have both a significant level of emergency need and a substantial Ford employee presence. Projects focus on addressing hunger, shelter and mobility needs, providing educational resources, or delivering critical medical supplies and services to communities in need.
Here in Europe, employees will be able to lend their support to a range of organisations*:
The $500,000 in matching funds, which include contributions from Ford Fund and Bill Ford personally, represent the strong commitment of both Ford’s philanthropic group and Bill Ford, who started the Ford Volunteer Corps 15 years ago and continues to champion the importance of volunteering and giving back.
Employees and others interested in donating can visit www.globalgiving.org/ford-covid-response to view a full list of participating countries as well as cities across the United States, and to learn more about community projects they can support. GlobalGiving will add new projects and additional details over the coming weeks, so employees are encouraged to check back often for updates.
“Now more than ever, we need your help to ensure those sleeping rough and those in homelessness services are not forgotten and have somewhere safe to stay and to self-isolate to protect them from the coronavirus,” said Jay Hunt, St Mungo’s. “Whilst this unprecedented situation continues our dedicated colleagues will continue to support and care for those who need our help. We can only provide these vital services with your help.”
“While healthcare professionals are making enormous efforts to treat the sick and ill, scientists work against the clock to find innovative treatments against this coronavirus and a vaccine to prevent future infections. Donations will help us to make progress to defeat COVID-19,” said Inés Antón, co-founder of Apadrina La Ciencia.
Virtual volunteering
Ford Fund’s new “Read and Record” virtual volunteering project invites Ford employees from around the world to record and submit videos reading a children’s book in their own language. The effort is designed to provide Ford employees a way to give back from the safety and comfort of their own homes, and builds on Ford Fund's ongoing efforts to increase literacy and promote a love of reading.
The online library will be catalogued by language, and multilingual employees are encouraged to read in languages other than English. Ford Fund plans to share the library with philanthropic groups that serve children and families.
Ford Fund previously announced it is allocating more than $1.6 million in resources to help communities and local nonprofits throughout Southeast Michigan and across the United States address hunger, shelter and mobility needs related to COVID-19. Earlier this year, Ford Fund also worked with Ford of China to provide face masks and other protective gear needed during the initial breakout of the virus in China.
As Ford Fund concentrates on taking immediate action at the local level, Ford engineers, researchers and suppliers are designing and manufacturing masks, respirators, ventilators and other critical medical equipment and supplies for healthcare workers, first responders and patients fighting COVID-19. To learn more about the company’s recent news and efforts related to COVID-19, click here.
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* Details as regards Turkey-based community organisation were being finalised at time of writing.
About Ford Motor Company Fund
As the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, Ford Fund’s mission is to strengthen communities and help make people’s lives better. Working with dealers and non-profit partners in 63 countries, Ford Fund provides access to opportunities and resources that help people reach their full potential. Since 1949, Ford Fund has invested more than $2 billion in programs that support education, promote safe driving, enrich community life and encourage employee volunteering. For more information, visit www.fordfund.org or join us at @FordFund on Facebook and Twitter.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification; mobility solutions, including self-driving services; and connected services. Ford employs approximately 190,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit corporate.ford.com.
Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 50 individual markets and employs approximately 46,000 employees at its wholly owned facilities and consolidated joint ventures and approximately 61,000 people when unconsolidated businesses are included. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 19 manufacturing facilities (12 wholly owned facilities and seven unconsolidated joint venture facilities). The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911.
About GlobalGiving
GlobalGiving makes it safe and easy for individuals and companies to give to local projects anywhere in the world, providing nonprofits with the training and support they need to become more effective. Since 2002, GlobalGiving has helped raise more than $450 million from more than one million donors and has worked with more than 350 corporate partners. GlobalGiving vets and supports organizations in 170 countries, so when disasters like COVID-19 occur, GlobalGiving can quickly deliver funds to community-driven organizations that are best-suited to provide relief in their communities. GlobalGiving is a top-rated (4-star) charity on Charity Navigator and accredited by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance. For more information on our corporate giving programs, please contact partnerships@globalgiving.org.
