In 2016, Ford and Lincoln dealers in the US has given more than $100 million and 800,000 hours to local causes and nonprofits according to Ford Motor Company's annual survey on Dealer Giving.
The survey is parallel with the 17th annual Salute to Dealers Awards being delivered at the 2017 National Automobile Dealers Association Convention and Expo. All Ford and Lincoln dealers who played a role in the survey donated $114 million. These efforts refelct Ford's global promise to Go Further.
In the survey, almost 80% of dealers said they gave time and money to local cause. Ford and Lincoln dealer employees reported volunteering a total of more than 800,000 hours in 2016.
“Time and time again our dealers find ways to truly go further in their communities,” said Edsel B. Ford II, who chairs the Salute to Dealers awards program and is a member of the Ford Board of Directors. “I am continually amazed by the selfless efforts of our honorees and nominees who choose to make a difference in people’s lives every day.”
Dealers give to causes that address a broad range of community needs – from children’s charities to the environment, from education and health care to parks, municipal services and disaster relief.
In 2016, children’s causes topped the list, with 69 percent of responding dealers donating, followed by 62 percent giving to education and scholarships. Fifty-six percent gave to veteran’s causes, while 46 percent participated in initiatives focused on police, fire and other first responders.
This year, Edsel B. Ford II and four other judges selected six winners from a total global field of nearly 80 nominees from the United States, Canada, Brazil, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America, plus Africa and the Middle East regions.
As part of the award, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services is donating $10,000 to a charity of each dealer’s choice.
A painted portrait of each honoree features a montage of the philanthropic and volunteer activities that led to the award. Duplicates of the portraits will join a Salute to Dealers display in the lobby of Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn, Mich.
Ford’s 2016 awards recognize the following dealers for their unparalleled generosity and commitment to their communities:
- Ken Crowley, Crowley Ford Lincoln, Plainville, Conn.
- Natalie Tindol, Tindol Ford, Gastonia, N.C.
- Alan Jay Wildstein, Alan Jay Ford Lincoln, Inc., Sebring, Fla.
- Vaughn A. Wyant, Jubilee Ford Sales Ltd., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Paul Brown, John Andrew Ford, Auckland, New Zealand
- Turgay Mersin, Sad?ko?lu, U?ak, Turkey
