Ford Philanthropy

From a programming course in Bahia, Brazil to a student exchange program in Cork, Ireland — Rafael’s journey shows what can happen when access meets opportunity. Through Ford <ENTER> and Soul Bilíngue, students are gaining experiences that open doors far beyond where they started. We’re proud to work alongside Soul Bilíngue to help create opportunities like this.

A growing space for a growing community. At the Ford Community Center in Bangkok, the expansion of our campus is creating more space for the programs multiple generations of local residents rely on every day, from after school learning to mental health support, food access, and community activities for seniors. To tell that story, we’ve partnered with The Cloud on a short documentary highlighting the work happening on the ground alongside our partners: Scholars of Sustenance Thailand - SOS Thailand, Sati Foundation, and Sookaphawa Roadside. As Ford marks 30 years in Thailand, this work reflects what it means to grow beside the communities we serve.  Watch the short film: https://lnkd.in/eR7yu_rT 

Honored to see The Children's Center of Wayne County (Detroit) recognized this morning at the Detroit City Council, where they were presented with Spirit of Detroit Awards for their work supporting children and families across the city. Since 1929, The Children’s Center has been a cornerstone of our community. Ford Philanthropy is proud to support their mission to expand access to essential care and build stronger futures for Detroit families.

Around 5,000 future leaders spent the day at Ford Motor Company this past week. As part of Bring Your Child to Work Day, Ford employees gave their kids a glimpse into what they do — and what it means to be part of Ford. At the Ford Philanthropy station, that meant introducing them to the Ford Volunteer Corps to learn how employees use their time and skills to support communities.  We were proud to offer the kids a different view of what work can look like as we build a future together. 💙

At Ford Motor Company, we have a long legacy of service — and now, we’re making sure that culture is part of the experience from Day 1 of employment.  In honor of National Volunteer Week, we’re sharing the story of Software Engineer Jakob Therkelsen, who recently traded his keyboard for a paintbrush as part of our first-ever New Hire Volunteer Project. Jakob joined fellow new employees in Detroit’s Morningside neighborhood to help Habitat for Humanity Detroit refurbish a home for a local family.  We can’t think of a better way to wrap up the week than by welcoming our newest Ford family members into our 20-year legacy of the Ford Volunteer Corps.   Read Jakob’s full "From the Road" story here: https://lnkd.in/e96c33dV

We’re returning from the TechForce Foundation Summit feeling incredibly energized and inspired. Thank you for the invitation to join such a dedicated group of industry peers to discuss the future of technical education and the next generation of technicians. The conversations were a powerful reminder that solving the technician shortage isn't something one company can do alone — it takes all of us.  Ford Philanthropy was deeply honored to be recognized during the summit for our scholarship investments and the advocacy of Ford’s leadership and dealer network. To us, this acknowledgment reflects the strength of our partnership and our shared commitment to moving the needle for students everywhere. Thank you to the TechForce team for creating a space where we can collectively listen, learn, and lead. We’re excited to keep the momentum going! 🛠️

The tools to build a better Detroit just became a lot more accessible. To kick off National Volunteer Week, Ford Philanthropy joined forces with Carhartt and ToolBank USA to officially open the Detroit ToolBank!    More than 150 volunteers from Ford and Carhartt headed straight to Belle Isle Conservancy to put brand-new tools to work, building picnic tables and chairs that will serve the community for years to come.    But this is about more than just one day. Ford Philanthropy is committed to helping ensure local nonprofits and community groups can access the equipment they need for pennies on the dollar.    To make sure the work starts immediately, we also launched a joint $25,000 fund to cover lending fees for the first wave of community projects.    We’re proud to help provide the tools Detroiters need to build a stronger, more resilient city.    Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/ekfD7t8Y