10,000 Ford Volunteers Unite for Their Communities During Eighth Annual Ford Global Week of Caring

DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

• Ford Volunteer Corps has enlisted more than 10,000 Ford employees, retirees and dealers in more than two dozen countries for eighth annual Ford Global Week of Caring
• More than $290,000 in grants worldwide help support community service projects, including new initiatives in Europe and the Asia Pacific region
• More than 100 projects in the U.S. will be completed during this blitz for community service in 16 states

About 10,000 members of the Ford Volunteer Corps are joining together to tackle more than 200 projects on six continents during the eighth annual Ford Global Week of Caring.

The Ford Volunteer Corps is out in force from China to Australia and from Europe to the Americas in mid-September. Ford Global Week of Caring is the highlight of a year-round global campaign to flex the volunteer muscle of Ford employees, retirees and dealers.

Ford employee volunteers are undertaking a wide variety of projects around the world. These projects include building temporary shelters for homeless children in China, renovating a community youth center in Germany, providing clean drinking water facilities in disadvantaged parts of India and South Africa, and participating in environmental restoration activities in Australia.

In the U.S., Ford employees in 16 states are building homes, rehabilitating shelters, feeding the hungry, creating urban vegetable gardens, and assisting military veterans including sponsoring an Honor Flight for World War II veterans from Kansas City to visit the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

"Ford employees tell us they're thankful to work for a company that encourages and supports their desire to make a difference in their communities," said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. "It is gratifying to see how our Ford employees are eager to jump in, and the impact of their contributions."

Nonprofit organizations in Europe and the Asia Pacific and Africa region will share more than $200,000 in grants for their projects. Ford Motor Company Fund also is contributing more than $90,000 to support the U.S.-based activities.

About Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services

Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services works with community partners around the world to advance driving safety, education and community life. Ford Motor Company Fund has operated for more than 60 years with ongoing funding from Ford Motor Company (NYSE:  F). The award-winning Ford Driving Skills for Life program teaches new drivers through a variety of hands-on and interactive methods. Innovation in education is encouraged through scholarships and programs that transform education systems and connect classroom learning to the real world. Through the Ford Volunteer Corps, more than 25,000 Ford employees and retirees work on projects that better their communities in 30 countries. For more information, visit www.community.ford.com.

SOURCE Ford Motor Company