For nearly 90 years, Ford Motor Company and the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) have been working together to help the nation's wounded military veterans. Henry Ford organized a cross-country caravan of 50 Model T Fords to take disabled veterans to the 1922 DAV national convention in San Francisco.
In 2011, Ford is donating another $200,000 for the purchase of eight new vehicles for the DAV Transportation Network which provides free rides for veterans to their medical appointments. In addition, Ford also is providing $25,000 for the purchase of a Ford Explorer for the DAV’s Washington Headquarters.
“We are extremely grateful for Ford’s generosity,” said DAV National Commander Wallace E. Tyson. “These vehicles will be used by veteran's hospitals to transport wounded warriors to and from medical appointments, continually providing a vital link between thousands of sick and disabled veterans and the health care they so desperately need.”
“Ford Motor Company is honored to support our disabled veterans by partnering with the DAV on many programs, including the DAV Transportation Network" said Jim Vella, President, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. "Our partnership dates back nearly 90 years and we are continuously amazed at what our partnership has produced.”
Since 1996, Ford has donated 156 vans, worth more than $3.7 million to the DAV.
Ford is again donating $25,000 to the DAV's Jesse Brown Memorial Youth Scholarship Program. The program provides 12 scholarships to deserving young men and women who have generously volunteered their time and compassion to sick and disabled veterans in their community.
“We also deeply appreciate Ford’s support of the Jesse Brown Youth Memorial Scholarship, as well as the $25,000 they donated to the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, which is a unique sports rehabilitation program for hundreds of severely disabled veterans,” Commander Tyson said. “Ford has always shown its pride in being American made, and it backs that up by reaching out with a helping hand to those who sacrificed so much to defend the American way.”
Ford Motor Company was honored with the 2011 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. Sponsored by the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), the Freedom Award is the highest honor bestowed upon America's employers who provide exceptional support to their employees serving in the National Guard and Reserve.
