Ford has been an official sponsor of Habitat for Humanity International and its affiliates since 1995. The Ford Volunteer Corps continues to build on that commitment in 2008.
During Ford’s Global Week of Caring 2008, hundreds of Ford volunteers will put on MODEL Teams shirts and join another Habitat for Humanity building project in the city of Detroit. Ford volunteers help build homes for low-income families. It is just the latest in a series of volunteer efforts to help build homes and communities for those in need.
Ford volunteers have participated in many Habitat for Humanity activities:
- 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.
- During the 2006 Super Bowl in Detroit, Ford volunteers took part 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.
- Ford volunteers were again part of the action in 2007 during the Detroit Blitz Build. They also helped clear a site in nearby Macomb County, Michigan and donated more than two dozen tool boxes for use by construction crews on the job.
Helping Tsunami Victims
In 2004, we joined with Habitat for Humanity International to help rebuild homes and communities in countries affected by the tsunami in Southeast Asia. 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. There are 24 families now living in homes built by Ford volunteers.