Ford launches Coronavirus (COVID-19) Donation Match program for employees

MANILA: On April 3, Ford Motor Company  announced two  opportunities for Ford employees worldwide who wish to give back while complying with stay-at-home recommendations.

The COVID-19 Donation Match program is a joint initiative of Ford Motor Company executive chairman Bill Ford and the Ford Fund. The goal of the program is to match at least US$500,000 in donations to specific organizations worldwide. This is to help raise US$1 million for various communities combatting the pandemic.

In the Philippines, Ford is targeting to generate US$25,000 to help Gawad Kalinga with its "Walang Iwanan, Walang Hawaan" rehabilitation and relief program targeting communities impacted by the nationwide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

According to AVP for corporate and government affairs of Ford Philippines Josephine Gonzales, while the ECQ is essential to control the spread of COVID-19 in the country through the recommendations for people to stay in their homes for a certain period, it has tremendously deprived rural communities, informal sectors, and daily wage earners. This is the reason why Ford is willing to go the extra mile to reach out to COVID-19-affected districts through the mobilization of its employees for participation in the program.

Ford Motor Company Fund president Mary Culler added that during these challenging times, Ford employees are used to signing up and taking part in numerous initiatives. Though most employees are in their homes, they are seeking several ways to help. Both of these new opportunities provide significant ways for employees to give back and participate in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Through the COVID-19 Donation Match, Ford Fund offers an opportunity for Ford workers, along with their friends and families, to donate and support non-profit organizations and other charitable groups to address coronavirus-related concerns in over 20 countries worldwide.

GlobalGiving, the longtime global grant-making and disaster relief partner of Ford, manages the Donation Match program. Its main objective is to help fund community projects in areas with a high level of urgent need and a strong presence of Ford employees. The community projects concentrate on meeting demands for food, housing, and mobility; ensuring educational support, or providing essential medical services and supplies to vulnerable communities.

In the Philippines, donation proceeds will be allotted for relief initiatives. Specifically, this will include the delivery of food packs to 1,200 less-privileged and affected families in Gawad Kalinga communities located in the Visayas region.

The donations will also aid in financing the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as medical supplies like thermal scanners, sanitizer, and alcohol. Volunteers need these medical supplies and equipment to support on-the-ground relief measures and guarantee their protection and safety.

The general public, dealer partners, and employees can give their donations through the GlobalGiving website. Additional information and new projects will be added on the website in the next few weeks so that employees can check for updates.

Ford Fund also introduces the new “Read and Record” virtual volunteering initiative. The goal of this project is to build an online library for Ford employees to read children’s books for more than 1.3 billion youth and children who were affected due to global class suspensions.

The “Read and Record” program of Ford invites its employees worldwide to record and submit numerous videos of them reading a children’s book in their respective languages. The initiative aims to give Ford workers a way of giving back even from the comfort and security of their own homes. The project also reinforces the continuous efforts of the Ford Fund to improve literacy and encourage appreciation for reading.

The online library is classified by language, and multilingual workers are allowed to read in different languages aside from English. Ford Fund is also planning to open the library to philanthropic organizations supporting children and their families.

Ford Fund also worked closely with Ford of China earlier this year to provide protective gear and surgical masks needed during the COVID-19 outbreak in China.

As Ford Fund focuses on reaching out to local communities and citizens in numerous countries, Ford manufacturers, engineers, and researchers are efficiently designing, producing, and distributing ventilators, respirators, masks, and other essential medical supplies and equipment for COVID-19 patients, first responders, and healthcare personnel.