Ford Fund contributes $50,000 with employee match for donations

DEARBORN, Mich. — The devastating cold may be easing in Texas, but the life-threatening emergency continues for millions of people across the state. The lack of clean drinking water is the latest focus of the crisis with some 12 million people under orders to boil their drinking water before using.

Ford Motor Company Fund—the philanthropic arm of Ford—will contribute a total of $50,000 to local food banks and for disaster relief to support both immediate and anticipated ongoing needs. Ford Fund’s contribution to the American Red Cross will serve as a match of donations up to $25,000 and go directly toward Texas relief and recovery efforts. If you would like to donate to the Red Cross, please go to redcross.org/donate. An additional $25,000 will also be dispersed among local food banks in North Texas, Houston and San Antonio.

Hundreds of Red Cross disaster relief workers are on the ground providing shelter, serving meals and distributing emergency supplies to thousands of people. Ford Fund is a member of the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program, ensuring the organization has needed funds in advance of a disaster to stage an immediate response to help people in need.

Ford Motor Company is also working with its dealer network in Texas to mobilize a fleet of 2021 F-150 PowerBoost Hybrids with Pro Power Onboard to help hundreds of thousands of Texans still without power after the unprecedented winter weather. With reports of families standing in line at shelters and sleeping in vehicles to stay warm, Ford is providing incentives to its dealerships in Texas to mobilize the more than 1,300 vehicles with the 7.2 kW generators that can be used to help residents still without power.

The destructive storm has left at least 20 people dead in Texas. The frigid weather has disrupted water service to more than 1,200 water systems in at least 161 counties. Nearly 200,000 homes remain without power, down from four million earlier this week.

Please remember, Ford Fund and Ford Motor Company are not first responders. Disaster scenes are often unstable and unsafe. The company’s focus is to let police, firefighters and other trained emergency personnel stabilize a situation before we become involved in rebuilding and recovery assistance.

Ford Fund continues to monitor the changing situation. You can stay up to date with @fordOnline or by visiting fordfund.org.