Ford Lends a Hand

Ford Philippines reached more than 120 families in Cavite and supported several communities across Luzon and Mindanao through volunteer activities during its annual Global Caring Month in September.

The month-long program involved company employees, dealership personnel and partner organizations in projects that covered community development, education, elderly care and assistance to disadvantaged children.

One of the major activities took place at Gawad Kalinga PNOC Olaes Village in Cavite, where more than 40 Ford employees, led by managing director Pedro Simoes, joined residents in repainting houses, schools and livelihood facilities.

Volunteers also repainted a basketball court and multipurpose hall while preparing Bayong ng Pag-Asa packages containing food essentials and vegetables for more than 120 families.

In Davao City, Ford worked with the Philippine Eagle Foundation and Ford Davao on outdoor classroom projects for six Indigenous Peoples communities.

The activities began with the unveiling of a ceremonial project marker, followed by storytelling, arts and crafts, birdwatching, cultural discussions and entrepreneurial coaching sessions.

Ford employees and dealership volunteers also visited Tahanan ng Mahal na Ina ng Guadalupe, a residential care facility managed by the Missionary Sisters of Evangelization.

The home serves 25 elderly women who are homeless, abandoned or living in poverty.

Volunteers from Ford Philippines and Ford Batangas provided food, vitamins, medicines and groceries. They also spent time with the residents through social activities.

Another group visited the Rev. Fr. Vincenzo Idà Children’s Home in Batangas, an independent nonprofit organization that cares for neglected, orphaned and abandoned children, among others, in CALABARZON.

The volunteers provided essential supplies and spent time with the children.

Ford also began working with Cartwheel Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports culturally relevant education for Indigenous Filipino children.

Under the new partnership, volunteers helped prepare hot meals, provided tutoring and offered psychosocial support to children in Parañaque.

Other outreach activities took place at Little Angels Home Inc. and Munting Tahanan ng Nazareth, where Ford employees distributed food, clothing and vitamins to abandoned children with special needs.

The volunteers also organized games and interactive activities for the children.

The initiatives involved Ford’s partnerships with Gawad Kalinga, the American Chamber Foundation and Cartwheel Foundation, alongside its dealership network and other community organizations.

Kent Primor, director of Government and Corporate Affairs at Ford Philippines, said the annual program gives employees an opportunity to contribute to the communities around them.

“Global Caring Month is an opportunity for us to come together as a Ford family and reaffirm our commitment to giving back to the communities around us,” Primor said.

He added that Ford intends to continue its community assistance programs after September, rather than limit volunteer work to the annual observance.