Ford PH Kicks Off Global Caring Month This September

Thousands of Ford employees and Ford dealer employees around the world will participate in community service projects this September to make people’s lives better as part of Ford Global Caring Month. In the Philippines, Ford volunteers are set to participate in various community projects in partnership with Gawad Kalinga (GK). Three new communal water facilities will be constructed in GK Tibagan Village in Brgy. Bangan Lupa, Tibagan, Tarlac City, GK Matalom Village in Brgy. Punong Matalom, Leyte, and Maria Elena Lorenzo GK Village in Magassi, Cabagan, Isabela. Over 150 families from these GK communities will have access to clean, safe, and potable water. In 2018, the water facility construction project benefitted 170 families in three remote GK communities in Negros Oriental, Leyte, and Nueva Ecija, rendering a total of 320 hours of community work. Aside from new water facilities, Ford employees are also helping build and paint houses in GK Bayanihan in Dasmariñas, Cavite, benefitting over 20 families. Ford employees will also help prepare and distribute lunch meals under GK's Kusina ng Kalinga program, benefitting 800 public school children from Taysan Central School, Pagasa Elementary School, Mapulo Elementary School, and Bilogo Elementary School in Taysan, Batangas. In 2018, Ford fed 150 kids in La Union under the Kusina ng Kalinga program. Ford dealer employees, on the other hand, will also help refurbish the Multipurpose Hall which serves as a community center at the GK Aeta Community in Bamban, Tarlac, benefitting over 100 families. "September is Global Caring Month at Ford and we’re very excited to continue the work we do in the various communities we serve," shares Josie Gonzalez, AVP for government and corporate affairs, Ford Philippines. "The spirit of social responsibility and volunteerism is very much alive in Ford and we look forward to making a difference in the lives of more Filipinos nationwide with our programs and CSR initiatives." Ford Global Caring Month is the signature annual event of the Ford Volunteer Corps. Since its launch in 2005 by Executive Chairman Bill Ford, Ford Volunteer Corps members have contributed more than 1.5 million hours of community service in 50 countries, representing more than USD40 million of in-kind community investments. During September, the Ford Volunteer Corps will tackle hundreds of projects in cities, towns, and villages on six continents. Ford Fund is contributing more than USD675,000 in grants to purchase tools and supplies for many of the global projects. In addition to the volunteer activities in the Philippines, Ford Global Caring Month projects include:

• Australia – Paint and garden at senior home, update dining area at camp for homeless kids
• Brazil - Setup mothers workshop for vulnerable women to earn income as seamstresses
• China - Kids from low-income families make model cars, spend day with Ford volunteers
• Germany - Renovate homes for refugees
• India - Empower disadvantaged women with tailoring and garment design training
• Mexico - Rebuild dining room, maintain playground at home for children
• Romania - Redecorate playroom, add new beds at hospital pediatric oncology department
• South Africa - Renovate shelters and safe houses for abused women and children
• Spain – Prepare meals and provide sleeping bags for homeless individuals
• Vanuatu - Install water tanks at schools, churches and community center

"Ford volunteers are improving access to clean water, feeding the hungry, building homes, renovating schools and providing opportunities to help make people’s lives better all over the world," said Todd Nissen, director, Ford Volunteer Corps. "Each Ford volunteer is making a valued contribution to stronger communities and a better world." The Ford Volunteer Corps is a global network of Ford employees that is advancing the energy and creative ideas of Ford employees to have a lasting impact in the communities Ford serves.