To help build homes and communities for those in need, we've been an official sponsor of Habitat for Humanity International and its affiliates since 1995.
In 2005, we were proud to be a Host City Partner for the 2005 Habitat for Humanity International Jimmy Carter Work Project in Detroit and provided the largest contingent of volunteer teams for the project.
About Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity builds homes for families of moderate income and also provides key programs such as financial literacy workshops for the potential homeowner.
From June 19 to June 24, 2005, more than 230 Habitat homes were completed across Michigan and in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. In Detroit and Benton Harbor, Michigan, 30 homes were "blitz built" from foundation to completion in one week.
Ford Volunteers
Our volunteers work with Habitat for Humanity to build homes to help those in need. Habitat for Humanity activities in which our employees have participated include the following:
- During the 2006 Super Bowl, which was held in Detroit, Ford volunteers participated in the NFL Super Build. Ford volunteers built frames that were shipped to the Gulf Coast to become homes for hurricane survivors. Dozens of Ford volunteers headed south to the gulf during the two-week plant shutdown in July to build homes and hope for families left homeless by the storms.
- During the week of September 9, 2006, Ford volunteers around the world teamed up with Habitat to build 24 homes for people in need.
- In 2004—2005, Ford provided over 2,100 volunteers to work on the building of homes for Habitat for Humanity and its affiliates. This effort translates into over 20,000 hours for a two-year period. Ford volunteers represent more than half of the total volunteers in Detroit.
- In Michigan, we sponsored the construction of six homes in 2005. In 2006, we sponsored two more in Detroit.
Helping Tsunami Victims
We joined with Habitat for Humanity International to help rebuild homes and communities in countries affected by the 2004 tsunami. Our contributions in these efforts included general funding and employee volunteers.
To contribute to the relief efforts, Ford of Thailand sent hundreds of Ford volunteers to the tsunami-ravaged area of Thailand. The relief efforts are continuing and 24 families are now living in homes built by Ford volunteers.
