DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford employees pulled on their masks, followed safe distancing rules and served their communities in 29 countries in new and different ways during Ford Global Caring Month—Ford's 30-day concentrated focus on community service that happens each September. Over $380,000 is being donated to more than 75 employee-nominated nonprofits around the world, as a result of two new opportunities the Ford Volunteer Corps created for employees to safely support the Global Caring Month mission of making people's lives better.
"With the world struggling under the strain of the coronavirus, Ford volunteers were inspired and determined to find safe, new ways to help people and continue the positive momentum of Ford Global Caring Month," said Todd Nissen, director, Ford Volunteer Corps. "Thanks to their leadership and commitment to strengthening our communities, we're making significant progress improving people's lives."
During a typical year, thousands of Ford employees fan out into communities across six continents to participate in hands-on service projects during the signature annual event of the Ford Volunteer Corps. This year, to maintain health and safety, instead of planting gardens, cleaning and renovating shelters or stocking shelves at food pantries, Ford employees concentrated their efforts on two activities—Gratitude Grants and Acts of Kindness.
Gratitude Grants
Ford Fund and Ford Volunteer Corps asked employees to nominate local nonprofits or nongovernmental organizations for a "Gratitude Grant" in recognition of the essential work they are doing to address COVID-19. Ford Volunteer Corps is in the process of notifying selected organizations and will be awarding a $5,000 grant to help sustain or expand each group's efforts to serve its community and meet pandemic-related needs. Nominations came in from across Europe, North and South America, Australia, China, India, South Africa and many other countries. Grants will be distributed during November and December, supporting efforts related to hunger relief, homelessness, health and wellness, education and more.
Acts of Kindness
The Ford Volunteer Corps received nearly 400 submissions from 15 countries for its Acts of Kindness program, which invited employees to submit a photo and description of themselves performing a good deed for a family member, friend or neighbor. Participating employees received a $15 USD gift card—in recognition of the 15th anniversary of the Ford Volunteer Corps—that could be used to support their choice of one of thousands of vetted charitable projects in more than 160 countries. Click through the photos in our Flickr album to see employees in action.
Managed by Ford Motor Company Fund, the company's philanthropic arm, the Ford Volunteer Corps is a global network of Ford employees and retirees who have contributed more than 1.7 million volunteer hours in community service projects since 2005. To learn more about the work of the Ford Volunteer Corps, visit www.fordfund.org/volunteer.