In advance of Veteran’s Day, Ford Motor Company Fund will sponsor Honor Flight Chicago to transport nearly 100 Chicago area veterans to Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, Oct. 29.

Ninety-one World War II veterans will travel to the nation’s capital to experience the national war memorials dedicated in their honor. The trip is being organized by Honor Flight Chicago, the local hub of the Honor Flight Network.

“Ford is privileged to play a small role in what we hope is a big day of reflection, remembrance and recognition for those who fought to defend freedom, democracy and the American way of life,” said Jim Vella, president Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services.

Ford Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, began partnering with Honor Flight in 2011 and has since provided support for nine flights from Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, Missouri and Illinois. In 2014, Ford supported three flights of over 200 veterans from across the nation, including Chicago.

Ford Motor Company maintains an historic commitment to its veterans and military personnel. The company employs over 5,000 veterans and civilian employees, who are active in the Reserves and the National Guard. The Ford Veterans Network Group sponsors activities throughout the year in support of its veterans, military personnel and their families.

Since 1974, Ford Motor Company and the Ford Motor Company Fund have provided more than $9 million to veterans’ organizations. Ford Motor Company has a longstanding partnership with the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) that began in 1922 when Henry Ford organized a caravan of 50 Model T’s to take veterans to their annual convention. Over the last 19 years, Ford has donated over 178 vehicles to the DAV.

Ford also supports military families through our support of the American Red Cross. This year, the Ford Motor Company Fund is providing 150 Blue Oval Scholarships to military members and their spouses to receive certification in nurse assistant training from the American Red Cross. Ford has already provided 250 scholarships over the last two years; enabling veterans and their families to receive training for careers in the healthcare industry.

Send-off and welcome-back ceremonies and related events will take place early morning and late evening on October 29. Details are as follows:

Where: Midway Airport baggage claim level
When: October 29, 2014; 7:15AM (departure) 8:45PM (arrival)

To obtain more information about the day’s events, please visit www.honorflightchicago.org or contact Zlatana Alibegovic at 773-615-6307 directly.

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 community life. The Ford Motor Company Fund has operated for more than 60 years with ongoing funding from Ford Motor Company. Ford Driving Skills for Life teaches new drivers through a variety of hands-on and interactive methods. Innovation in education is encouraged through programs that enhance high school learning and provide college scholarships and university grants. Through the Ford Volunteer Corps, more than 25,000 Ford employees and retirees each year work on projects that better their communities in 30 countries. For more information, visit http://community.ford.com.

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 183,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.