In recognition of its exceptional support of employees serving in the National Guard and Reserve, the Ford Motor Company recently became one of just 15 companies in the U.S. to receive a 2011 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The honor—sponsored by the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR)—was first introduced 16 years ago and is the highest employer-recognition award given by the Department of Defense.
Ford support for its employees who are serving (and have served) this country is wide ranging and long standing. For example, the company has an ongoing relationship with the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) that dates back to 1922. That’s when Henry Ford organized a 50-strong squad of Model T’s to help disabled vets from throughout the nation make it to that year’s convention, held in San Francisco. More recently, Ford has donated more than 150 vehicles to DAV since 1996 to assist the group’s Transportation Network, and also continues to provide annual support for DAV’s winter sports clinic and youth scholarship volunteer program.
And the Ford Motor Company helps all veterans through monetary and vehicle donations, scholarships, and special vehicle-purchase programs.
Ford also provides strong support for its employees who are actively serving in the armed forces—there are currently 30—as well as the approximately 700 Reservist and Guardsmen, and 7,000 veterans, who work for the company.
“We are proud of our employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve and it is our privilege to support them,” said Mike Bannister, Ford executive vice president, chairman and CEO of Ford Motor Credit Company, and executive champion of the Ford Veterans Network Group. “We thank ESGR and the Department of Defense for this recognition. We appreciate the honor, and we deeply appreciate all the men and women involved in military service.”
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