Today, with Ford Fund, we announced two opportunities for our employees around the world who are eager to give back while honouring stay-at-home recommendations.
COVID-19 Donation Match programme
The COVID-19 Donation Match programme is a combined effort between Ford Fund and our Executive Chairman Bill Ford that will match $500,000 in donations to designated community organisations in the fight against COVID-19, raising a potential $1 million for groups battling the pandemic across the globe.
“During trying times, Ford employees are used to being the boots on the ground – getting out, signing up and pitching in to help make a difference,” said Mary Culler, president, Ford Motor Company Fund. “Even now, while many are sheltering in place at home, our employees are looking for ways to help. These two new programmes offer meaningful ways for employees to give back and join in the fight against COVID-19.”
Here in Europe, employees will be able to lend their support to Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (German Red Cross), Mission Bambini, in Italy; Asociatia Club Rotary Craiova Probitas, in Romania; Asociacion Apadrina La Ciencia, in Spain; and St Mungo’s, in the UK, among others.
“Now more than ever, we need your help to ensure those sleeping rough and those in homelessness services are not forgotten and have somewhere safe to stay and to self-isolate to protect them from the coronavirus,” said Jay Hunt, St Mungo’s.
“Whilst this unprecedented situation continues our dedicated colleagues will continue to support and care for those who need our help. We can only provide these vital services with your help.”
“While healthcare professionals are making enormous efforts to treat the sick and ill, scientists work against the clock to find innovative treatments against this coronavirus and a vaccine to prevent future infections. Donations will help us to make progress to defeat COVID-19,” said Inés Antón, co-founder of Apadrina La Ciencia.
Virtual volunteering project
We are also launching a new “Read and Record” virtual volunteering project to create an online library of employees reading children’s books for the 1.3 billion children and youth affected by school closures around the world.
As Ford Fund concentrates on taking immediate action at the local level, our engineers, researchers and suppliers are designing and manufacturing masks, respirators, ventilators and other critical medical equipment and supplies for healthcare workers, first responders and patients fighting COVID-19. Learn more about Ford's recent news and efforts related to COVID-19, click here.