DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 9, 2008 - Ford Motor Company announced today that it will donate seven Ford Taurus X vehicles, valued at over $200,000, to support transportation needs of disabled veterans in seven select U.S. cities. Through Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford, the company is continuing an annual tradition of donating vehicles to the organization; more than 130 have been given since 1996.
The announcement was made at the 87th annual Disabled American Veterans (DAV) National Convention in Las Vegas. The vehicles will be used by Veterans Hospitals to transport disabled veterans to and from medical appointments.
"Ford's partnership with the Disabled American Veterans dates back more than 80 years," said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. "We're proud to be associated with the DAV, which supports men and women who bravely served our country and were wounded in the effort."
Ford's association with the DAV began in 1922 when Henry Ford organized a cross-country caravan of 50 Model T Fords to take disabled veterans to their convention in San Francisco. Through the years the company has maintained a relationship with the group and supported a variety of DAV program, such as the Winter Sports Clinic, where hundreds of severely disabled veterans received special training and recognition each year.
"The 132 vehicles Ford Motor Company has donated to the DAV Transportation Network since 1996 have provided a vital link between sick and disabled veterans and the healthcare they so desperately need," said DAV National Commander Robert T. Reynolds.
In addition, Ford will contribute $25,000 to the DAV's Jesse Brown Youth Memorial Scholarship, which recognizes outstanding young volunteers who play active roles in the Department of Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service by awarding annual scholarships that may be used for education.
"Ford believes it is important to support organizations like the DAV, whose work and initiatives help to build better communities for us all," Vella added.
This year's donated vehicles will go to the following cities: Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Loma Linda, Calif.; Newington, Conn.; North Chicago, Ill.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Lebanon, Pa; and Amarillo, Texas. The DAV determines where the greatest need is and selects the cities annually.
Previous examples of how vehicles were used include: San Diego, where the vehicle donations helped fulfill 13,398 transportation requests at the San Diego Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), and Iowa City, where 18,288 transportation requests were fulfilled at the VAMC there. The Iowa City vehicles logged more than 1 million miles transporting disabled veterans to and from the VAMC.
The Disabled American Veterans is a non-profit organization comprised of more than 1 million veterans who were disabled during armed conflicts.
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About Ford Motor Company:Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 229,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit our website at www.ford.com.
About Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services:
Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services is committed to creating opportunities that promote corporate citizenship, philanthropy, volunteerism and cultural diversity for those who live in the communities where Ford operates. Established in 1949 and made possible by funding from Ford Motor Company, Ford Motor Company Fund supports initiatives and institutions that foster innovative education, auto-related safety, and American heritage and legacy. National programs include Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies, which provides high school students with academically rigorous 21st century learning experiences, and Driving Skills for Life, a teen-focused auto safety initiative. The Ford Volunteer Corps, established in 2005, continues Ford's legacy of caring worldwide. Through the Volunteer Corps, Ford employees and retirees participate in a wide range of volunteer projects in their communities. For more information on programs made possible by Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services, visit www.community.ford.com.
Aug. 9, 2008