BETTER WORLD - Ford Volunteer Corps

Serving in our communities is an important part of building a better world. In 2012, 25,000 Ford employees and retirees volunteered more than 115,000 hours at 1,350 projects to help people in their local communities.

As part of that effort, each year an army of Ford employees, retirees, and dealers set their sights on tackling community projects during the Global Week of Caring.

In September 2012, during our seventh annual Global Week of Caring, twelve thousand members of the Ford Volunteer Corps were out in force with hammers, shovels and paintbrushes helping out in 29 countries from Asia to Africa and Europe to the Americas. They repaired schools in Australia and India, built a recreation room for kids in South Africa and constructed community water tanks in Thailand. Other projects they undertook include installation of water desalinization equipment in Indonesia, constructing barn owl boxes in the U.K., and feeding the hungry in Vietnam and the U.S.

Many projects were expanded and are ongoing.

“Around the world, Ford employees have built a reputation for making a difference with strong hands and huge hearts,” said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “We now have the momentum and the resources to take steps toward realizing our global vision of year-round volunteer activities.”

More than 25 nonprofit organizations in Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Philippines, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam are sharing more than $95,000 in grants for the tools and supplies needed to complete their projects.

“Ford volunteers are engaged, energized, and making a world of difference for people in need,” said Janet Lawson, director, Ford Volunteer Corps. “Ford volunteers are the face of Ford in the community, and proudly carry on the company’s legacy of caring and community service.”