Ford Provides $50,000 to Help Missouri Tornado Victims, and Ford Employees Step In

DEARBORN, Mich., May 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

• Ford Motor Company Fund (NYSE: F) is contributing an additional $50,000 to Feeding America in support of tornado victims in Joplin, Mo.  The Fund donated $50,000 to this organization earlier this month for disaster relief in southern states hit by tornadoes and floods

• Employees from the Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant and local offices are assisting with relief efforts in Joplin

• Ford has partnered with Feeding America and Newman's Own for more than a decade, putting a fleet of nearly 100 Ford trucks on the road delivering food to the hungry in 50 states

The Ford Motor Company Fund is donating another $50,000 to assist with hunger relief efforts in communities hit by tornadoes, bringing the total donations to Feeding America this month to $100,000.

Additionally, employees at the Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant, including employees with UAW Local 249, and local Ford offices are assisting with relief efforts in Joplin, Mo. An employee gate collection is expected to raise several thousand dollars in further contributions.  

"Our hearts go out to our neighbors without shelter and food in the wake of these devastating storms," said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund.  "Our partnership with Feeding America allows us to provide help where it is needed most."

Feeding America aids disaster relief and recovery by distributing food and grocery products through a network of more than 200 food banks that serve 61,000 local charitable agencies.

"The donations from Ford this season will greatly benefit those working to rebuild communities affected by the damaging storms," said Vicki Escarra, chief executive officer of Feeding America. "For years, our partnership with Ford has helped to better communities across the nation."

Ford Motor Company has a decade-long partnership with Feeding America and Newman's Own®, Inc. to provide Ford refrigerated trucks loaded with Newman's Own food products to communities in need.  The fleet of 98 refrigerated Ford trucks and vans has travelled 5.7 million miles delivering 130 million meals.  

About Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services

Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services works with community partners to advance driving safety, education and American heritage and community life. The Ford Motor Company Fund has operated for more than 60 years with ongoing funding from Ford Motor Company. 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 national programs that enhance high school learning and provide college scholarships and university grants. Through the Ford Volunteer Corps, more than 27,000 Ford employees and retirees work on projects each year that better their communities in dozens of countries. For more information, visit www.community.ford.com

SOURCE Ford Motor Company