Ford Fund Contributes to Hurricane Dorian Relief, Matches Donations

Up to $75,000 will be matched to the American Red Cross and Team Rubicon

Originally published Sept. 11, 2019
Updated Sept. 14, 2019

DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford Motor Company Fund is providing $150,000 to aid disaster relief efforts in the Bahamas and parts of the eastern U.S. following Hurricane Dorian. Ford Fund will also match contributions from Ford employees, dealers and the public, bringing potential total assistance up to $225,000.

Team Rubicon members sawing fallen trees in Bahamas

Ford Fund will match contributions to the American Red Cross up to $25,000 and up to $50,000 for donations to Team Rubicon. If you would like to donate to the Red Cross, please go to redcross.org/ford-emp. For contributions to veteran-led Team Rubicon click on teamrubiconusa.org/2019Ford.

Support also includes contributions to ToolBank USA to provide strike team kits and much needed tools to first responders assisting with recovery work. Ford Fund is also donating to HEART 9/11 to help with rebuild and recovery efforts. All of these agencies work together in all phases of preparedness, response, relief and recovery.

Ford Fund continues to monitor the situation and is staying in touch with our primary disaster relief partners who are all engaged in the difficult relief work in the Bahamas and the U.S. In addition to the emergency response to Dorian, Ford Fund is a member of the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program, ensuring the organization has needed funds in advance of a disaster to stage an immediate response to help people in need.

Team Rubicon member administering first aid in Bahamas

Please remember, Ford Fund and Ford Motor Company are not first responders. Disaster scenes are often unstable and unsafe. The company’s focus is to let police, firefighters and other trained emergency personnel stabilize a situation before we become involved in rebuilding and recovery assistance.

Hurricane Dorian slammed the Bahamas with 185 mile per hour winds, the strongest hurricane to ever hit the islands. The powerful storm left behind at least 50 dead, more than 70,000 homeless and catastrophic damage. Tornadoes and flooding impacted parts of the U.S. east coast, which escaped the worst of the disaster.

September is National Preparedness Month with the U.S. government urging people and communities to plan ahead in case of a hurricane or any other type of emergency. In 2018, Ford Fund hosted the Ford Disaster Relief Mobility Challenge, giving U.S. nonprofits the opportunity to design and win a Ford Transit specially outfitted to meet their unique disaster response needs.