Ford Dealers Give Tens of Millions to U.S. Nonprofits, Provide Thousands of Volunteer Hours Annually

DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 11, 2013 – Ford and Lincoln dealers contribute between $35.1 million and $84.6 million to charities and nonprofits in their communities across the U.S. per year, according to the results of a Ford Motor Company survey.

 

Ford’s Dealer Giving study, the first of its kind, was administered by Ford to its dealers and was conducted in association with the 13^th annual Salute to Dealers awards ceremony which took place on Feb. 8, in tandem with the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Convention in Orlando, Fla.

The Salute to Dealers awards recognizes dealers who go above and beyond when it comes to giving back to their communities. Six dealers were selected from among more than 8,500 Ford dealers worldwide for exhibiting unparalleled giving, dedication and leadership to their communities.

 

In Ford’s survey, 90 percent of 328 U.S. respondents who represent 10 percent of the company’s total Ford and Lincoln dealers in the U.S. indicated they give both time and money to charitable causes*.

 

In addition, Ford and Lincoln dealers reported on the amount of time they and their employees donate monthly to local charities and nonprofits. The amount of volunteer time ranged between 31,954 hours and 58,370 hours per month, equating to a work force of as many as 4,380 people working year-round at 40 hours a week to benefit local concerns. Given nonprofits widely report budget and staff shortages, this additional resource represents a considerable boon for the country’s charitable concerns.

 

Dealers were asked in the survey to indicate all the charities they donate both money and time to. The top charities were ranked as follows: children’s causes (92.9 percent), education/scholarships (78.5 percent), religious-driven causes (63.1 percent), hunger relief (51.3 percent), veterans (47.4 percent), municipal services including police and fire (38.5 percent), disaster relief (27.6 percent), animal relief (26.9 percent) and environment (23.4 percent).

 

Salute to Dealers is conducted under the leadership of Edsel B. Ford II, a member of Ford’s board of directors. The program was launched in 2001 to demonstrate the company’s commitment to its thousands of dealer principals who step beyond their showroom doors to make a difference in the communities where they live and work.

 

“While these survey results show the impressive contributions our dealers make across the U.S., it’s key to note that our dealers contribute to charities and nonprofits around the world,” said Ford. “It’s clear how passionate they feel about their own local philanthropic support as a meaningful pursuit they pass on to their employees and future generations.”

 

Edsel B. Ford II and three other judges selected winners from a total global field of 61 nominees located in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Europe, Asia Pacific, Caribbean & Central America, Africa and the Middle East regions.

 

A painted portrait of each honoree will have a montage of philanthropic and volunteer activities that led to the award. Duplicates of the portraits will join a Salute to Dealers display in the lobby of Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn, Mich., for year-round viewing. The winners include:

 

Jack Kain – Jack Kain Ford, Versailles, Ky., USA – A first-generation Ford dealer, Jack Kain’s more than 60 years of community investment offer an inspiring vision of what can be achieved in a lifetime of community service. He has worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life, educational and business resources of the community surrounding his dealership in Versailles, Ky. Key examples of his leadership include founding an economic development authority, chairing the local chamber of commerce, founding a seniors center, making personal loans to keep the local hospital open, securing federal grants and funding to bring safe municipal water to rural areas, donating land for a new road to the technical college and securing the presence of an addiction recovery center within driving distance for residents. Visit this link to watch a video on Jack Kain.

 

 

Bill Jarrett – Bill Jarrett Ford, Avon Park, Fla., USA – Bill Jarrett is a role model for making a difference in Highland County. He advocates, contributes and invests in youth charities, hunger relief and healthcare, in particular. Jarrett not only contributes financial resources, but spends numerous hours in leadership and fundraising activities. Examples include helping to organize and raise funds for a three-year pilot program called “Leader in Me” in four schools that make up the Highland County school system located in Avon Park. The program is based on Stephen R. Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” He alsosponsors and coordinates a yearly 5K run in which proceeds are donated to the Florida Hospital Heartland Division to assist in the establishment of a heart catheter lab. Jarrett created and sponsors other community initiatives including the Drive One for Your Heart program, and encourages community service at his dealership throughout the year in food collection for local pantries as well as packaging meals for local shelters. Visit this link to watch a video on Bill Jarrett.

 

 

Kevin Meehan – Imperial Ford, Mendon, Mass., USA – When he purchased a large parcel of land and built three state-of-the-art facilities to house his Ford, Chevrolet and Chrysler dealerships, Kevin Meehan had a vision of what he would bring to the town of Mendon in money and resources. As a result, he and his family open their home and dealerships for a variety of local causes and community building events, which they support all year long. For the past 10 years, Meehan has hosted the largest outdoor Christmas display in New England (43 acres) benefiting the Salvation Army. In addition, he provided funds and leadership for construction of a new police headquarters as well as renovations to the local hospital, swimming lake and recreational areas. His efforts further extend to children’s, community relief and veterans causes, among others. Visit this link to watch a video on Kevin Meehan.

 

 

Kittivut Chairat – Ford Chokechai Sukhothai, Sukhothai, Thailand, Asia Pacific – Kittivut Chairat dedicates both time and money to charitable causes surrounding education, children, resources and nourishment in his community. Both the dealer and his employees are deeply involved in numerous pursuits such as building ponds for raising fish, building mushroom huts, cleaning and rebuilding schools and playgrounds, constructing dams, planting trees and building fisheries, to name a few. Visit this link to watch a video on Kittivut Chairat.

 

 

Gazi Osman Ovali – Ovali Otomotiv, Antakya, Hatay, Turkey, Europe – Gazi Osman Ovali and his wife donate and provide leadership to a wide variety of causes within health, education and historical preservation. They donate 80  to 100 hours per month on average. Examples include donating a new library to the Hatay State Science High School along with plans to build a new automobile science laboratory for the local vocational high school. In addition, they are one of the main sponsors and supporters of the orphanage and nursing home of Hatay, and have arranged blood drives and assisted Syrian refugees. Visit this link to watch a video on Gazi Osman Ovali.

 

 

Dimas Arnaldo da Silva – Dimas Comércio de Automóveis Ltda, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil – The Dimas da Silvas are passionate fundraisers for numerous children’s causes including resources and toys at holidays and other times of the year. Visit this link to watch a video on Dimas Arnaldo da Silva.

 

 

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