Spirit of Detroit Joins Ford Volunteer Corps, Dresses in Ford Blue to Celebrate 10 Years of Building Stronger Communities
November 18 2015 - 12:00PM
Business Wire
- Spirit of Detroit sculpture dons Ford
Volunteer Corps T-shirt like the one worn to feed the hungry, build
homes, help children read and improve communities
- Ford Volunteer Corps is celebrating 10
years of community service that has contributed more than one
million hours of support in 48 countries around the world
- Ford Motor Company’s community
contributions include support of America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
next week featuring a 2016 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 as the lead
vehicle
Ford Motor Company Fund has enlisted the iconic Spirit of
Detroit sculpture to help celebrate 10 years of the Ford Volunteer
Corps and symbolize Ford’s continuing commitment to the city.
The famed 26-foot bronze work of art is today dressed in a blue
T-shirt like the one worn by Ford volunteers during more than 8,000
community service projects in Detroit since 2005. Ford employees
volunteer year round on a wide range of community service projects
that help build homes, feed the hungry, assist veterans in need and
teach children to read.
“The Spirit of Detroit embodies the can-do spirit of a great
American city and is a source of inspiration for the people of
southeast Michigan,” said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company
Fund and Community Services. “We’re honored to see this iconic
Detroit symbol wearing the Ford Volunteer Corps T-shirt like the
Ford employees who strengthen our community and create a better
world.”
Ford Motor Company played a defining role in Detroit’s emergence
as the Motor City and continues to invest in programs that advance
the city’s economic rebound and prospects for future success. Ford
and its philanthropic arm, Ford Motor Company Fund, have invested
nearly $200 million in southeast Michigan over the past 10 years,
including support for education through Blue Oval scholar programs,
Driving Skills for Life safety courses and enduring community
traditions such as the Ford Fireworks and America’s Thanksgiving
Parade.
Ford this year is again a prominent supporter of America’s
Thanksgiving Parade. Under the theme “Innovation through
Performance,” Ford’s presence includes: a 2016 Ford Mustang Shelby
GT350 and Focus RS as the lead vehicles in the parade; more than 40
F-150 full-size pickup trucks and other vehicles pulling parade
floats and carrying VIPs; as well as Ford’s float, which will mark
10 years of the Ford Volunteer Corps and spotlight the future
performance vehicles Ford GT and Focus RS.
In recent years Ford’s contributions to improving lives in the
Detroit area also include:
- A fleet of 18 Ford Mobile Food Pantries
at local food banks that are used to collect and distribute food,
and have delivered millions of meals.
- Ford Resource and Engagement Center in
southwest Detroit, a unique community gathering place where
neighbors can receive essential services from tax help to food for
their families.
- Ford Blue Oval Scholarships, Ford STEAM
Lab and Ford Freedom Award offer educational opportunities for
students to pursue a college degree and reach their full career
potential.
- Support for local arts and cultural
institutions, such as Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit Symphony
Orchestra, Michigan Opera Theater, Charles H. Wright African
American History Museum and Michigan Science Center.
The Ford Volunteer Corps was formed in 2005 by Executive
Chairman Bill Ford in response to the devastating Indian Ocean
tsunami and two hurricanes in the United States. While volunteerism
has always been an integral part of Ford Motor Company, creation of
the Ford Volunteer Corps unified and expanded the company’s
extensive global network of volunteer and community service
activities.
Since the Ford Volunteer Corps was founded, more than 250,000
volunteer participants have worked on nearly 11,000 projects in 48
countries, providing more than one million hours of service.
The Ford Volunteer Corps shirt will be on the Spirit of Detroit
until Nov. 30.
About Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services
Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services works with
community and global partners to advance driving safety, education
and community life. Ford Motor Company Fund has operated for more
than 65 years with ongoing funding from Ford Motor Company. Ford
Driving Skills for Life is free, interactive, hands-on safety
training focused on skill development and driving techniques, while
addressing inexperience, distractions and impaired driving.
Innovation in education is encouraged through Ford Blue Oval
Scholars, Ford Next Generation Learning and other inspiring
programs that enhance high school learning and provide college
scholarships and university grants. The Ford Volunteer Corps
enlists more than 30,000 Ford employees and retirees each year to
work on local projects that strengthen their communities and
improve people’s lives in more than 40 countries around the world.
For more information, visit http://community.ford.com.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in
Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six
continents. With about 197,000 employees and 67 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 www.corporate.ford.com.
For news releases, related materials and
high-resolution photos and video, visit www.media.ford.com.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151118006287/en/
Ford Motor Company FundTodd Nissen,
313.322.4898tnissen@ford.com
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