It’s World Environment Day and the Ford Volunteer Corps has fanned out across southeast Michigan to work on community environmental projects. Equipped with rakes and shovels, plants and building materials, Ford employees are out in force on a Ford Accelerated Action Day. Ford volunteers will plant urban vegetable gardens, install watering systems, construct storage sheds and landscape the grounds of nonprofit organizations.

More than 500 Ford employees will participate in over three dozen essential community service projects created by Ford’s nonprofit partners. Many of the participating agencies will share $46,000 in Ford grants to buy the tools, plants and other supplies needed to complete the day’s work.

“Clean water, sustainability and environmental stewardship are important parts of the culture at Ford,” said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “Ford employees understand that sustainability is not only important in automobile manufacturing, it is also a major component in improving the quality of life in our communities.”

Nonprofit partners in southeast Michigan receiving up to $5,000 in grants for today’s projects include:

  • Alternatives for Girls, Detroit – Build garden shed, paint & decorate child care room
  • Arbor Hospice, Ann Arbor – Create self-watering planting areas, prepare gardens
  • Boy Scouts of America, Metamora – Rebuild yurts, dwelling structure for rustic camping
  • Community Living Centers, Farmington – Paint office
  • Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, Highland Park – Install drip irrigation system, plant urban garden
  • Detroit Zoo, Royal Oak – Transform Great Apes habitat entrance into story circle
  • Habitat Macomb, Mt. Clemens – Construct sheds, picnic table and paint ReStore
  • Habitat Monroe, Monroe – Landscape three new homes
  • Haven, Pontiac – Remove carpet, prepare for new carpet installation
  • Henry Ford Estate, Dearborn – Plant native trees, install garden benches
  • International Wildlife Refuge, Grosse Ile – Build accessible overlook deck
  • Liberty Hill Housing Corp., Detroit and Westland – Landscape and clean up yards
  • Penrickton Center for Blind Children, Taylor – Rehab privacy fence & play equipment
  • Starfish Family Services, Inkster – Host year end celebration for students & families
  • St. Vincent de Paul, Detroit – Install bookcases & slatwalls at thrift store
  • Vista Maria, Dearborn Hts. – Plant trees, landscape campus

Ford employees also teamed up once again with Ford Green IT to collect unused computers, printers and other electronic equipment for recycling. During last year’s collection, more than 63,000 pounds of e-waste was collected, recycled and kept out of landfills.

“Ford and its employees are always looking ahead and doing our part to help create a better world,” said Janet Lawson, director, Ford Volunteer Corps. “Our efforts on the job and in the community will help give the next generation a good start on a brighter future.”

The Ford Volunteer Corps is active in local communities throughout the year and around the world. In September, thousands of Ford employees will gather on six continents during Ford Global Week of Caring to perform critical community service work in their cities, towns and villages.

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.

For news releases, related materials and high-resolution photos and video, visit www.media.ford.com.