Ford Volunteers, Employees Go Further for the Environment

Hundreds of Ford employees are digging into dozens of community environmental projects for nonprofit partners as part of a Ford Accelerated Action Day
Ford Motor Company Fund provided more than $47,000 in grants to purchase tools and supplies for today’s volunteer projects
The Ford Volunteer Corps also staffed the 9^th annual Ford Green IT e-waste recycling event that provided safe recycling to keep electronic devices out of landfills

DEARBORN, MI -- June 5, 2015: Hundreds of Ford Volunteer Corps members across the U.S. are digging into community environmental projects today, part of a Ford Motor Company Accelerated Action Day aimed at building stronger communities on World Environment Day.

About 500 Ford employees will participate in more than three dozen essential community service projects created by Ford’s nonprofit partners, including building urban vegetable gardens and renovating outdoor facilities. Many of the participating agencies will share more than $47,000 in Ford grants to buy the tools, plants and other materials needed to complete the day’s work.

“Ford and its employees are always looking forward, creating and innovating to improve the vehicles we build and the communities where we live and work,” said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “Sustainability is a critical ingredient because we’re not just looking for short-term fixes; we’re in this for the long haul with sustainable solutions to create a better world.”

Nonprofit partners in southeast Michigan receiving up to $5,000 in grants for today’s projects include:

Arbor Hospice, Ann Arbor - Remove damaged trees, plant grass and replace garden mulch
Boy Scouts, Metamora - Build swimsuit changing station for family camp
Community Living Centers, Southfield - Lay flooring and replace storm doors at group home
Fish & Loaves, Taylor - Assemble raised garden beds to support community food bank
Forgotten Harvest, Oak Park – Re-label food for distribution to the community
Friends of the Rouge, Dearborn - Install native demonstration garden and pathway
Gleaners Community Food Bank, Farmington Hills - Construct demonstration and produce gardens
Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation, Detroit - Plant garden next to farmers' market
Habitat for Humanity, Detroit - Secure merchandise shelving and create displays at ReStore
Habitat for Humanity, Monroe - Landscape Habitat homes with sustainable plantings
HAVEN, Pontiac - Clean children's playground and work on compost project
International Wildlife Refuge Alliance, Grosse Ile - Install split rail fence and spotting scope
Liberty Hill Housing Corporation, Romulus - Clean yards and landscape residential group homes
Macomb County Habitat, Clinton Township - Make improvements to community garden
Northville Community Foundation, Northville - Build elevated gardens, trash & recycling receptacles
Salvation Army - Echo Grove Camp, Leonard - Relocate native wildflower garden, build tent decks
Starfish Family Services, Inkster - Prepare site and install raised garden beds
St. Vincent de Paul, Detroit, other locations - Sort and recycle donated clothing, household goods

Ford employees also teamed up once again with Ford Green IT to collect unused computers, printers and other electronic equipment for recycling. During last year’s collection, more than 75,000 pounds of e-waste was collected, recycled and kept out of landfills. A similar amount is expected when this year’s results are tallied.

“From riverfronts to neighborhood streets, the scope of these projects shows how far Ford volunteers go to improve their local environment,” said Janet Lawson, director, Ford Volunteer Corps. “The annual e-waste recycling event is another example of our continuing efforts to Go Further in our communities.”

The Ford Volunteer Corps is active in local communities throughout the year and around the world. In September, thousands of Ford employees will gather on six continents to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the Ford Volunteer Corps by expanding Ford Global Week of Caring to Ford Global Caring Month, opening up new opportunities for more Ford employees to participate in creating a better world.