---
title: "Ford Dealerships’ Donations to Charity Exceeded $100 Million in 2017"
description: "Besides monetary donations, U.S. Ford dealers volunteered more than 50,000 hours to charitable causes."
date: "2018-03-25"
modified: "2018-03-25"
authors:
  - name: "Jerry Perez"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/19565/ford-dealerships-donations-to-charity-exceeded-100-million-in-2017"
categories:
  - "Ford News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "automotive industry"
  - "automotive news"
  - "Charity"
  - "Ford"
  - "Las Vegas"
---

# Ford Dealerships’ Donations to Charity Exceeded $100 Million in 2017

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/03/2018-s2d_skv_7231.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Ford Motor Company is in the business of making cars, and in the business of [generating headlines because of said cars](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/19528/ford-is-teaming-up-with-mahindra-on-two-suvs-and-an-ev>). Whether it's the Ford GT being praised for its outright speed or the Expedition for its family friendliness, Ford is consistently the talk of the town. This time though, the [Blue Oval](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/19532/ford-has-a-tesla-model-3-at-its-testing-facility>) is making waves thanks to the generosity of its dealer network.

The Salute to Dealers Award banquet takes place every year during the National Automobile Dealers Association Convention in Las Vegas, and it aims to celebrate dealer owners who step beyond their showroom doors to make a difference in their communities. According to a yearly survey performed by the automaker, authorized dealers in the United States contributed more than $110 million and 50,000 hours to [charitable causes](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/18938/racer-owned-non-profit-is-giving-away-a-brand-new-mazda-mx-5-cup-race-car>) and nonprofits in 2017.

In fact, the statement released by the company states that more than 90 percent of Ford dealers give both time and money to local causes, something which Edsel B. Ford II, who chairs the Salute to Dealers awards program and serves on the company’s board of directors, is quite proud of.

![message-editor%2F1521952206090-2018-s2d\_skv\_7269.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1521952206090-2018-s2d_skv_7269.jpg>)
*Ford*

![message-editor%2F1521952220318-2018-s2d\_skv\_7110.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1521952220318-2018-s2d_skv_7110.jpg>)
*Ford*

“Ford dealers are the best in the world,” said Ford II. "Their level of commitment to bettering the communities in which they operate is not only commendable, it also helps to strengthen the Ford and Lincoln brands in communities across the world.”

Among the most popular charitable causes were [firefighter and other first responder](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/13361/same-fire-less-manpower-the-life-of-a-small-town-firefighter>) initiatives, especially as a large part of the southern United States was battered by hurricanes during 2017. Other important causes that dealers focused on were children’s initiatives, educational programs, scholarships, and veterans charities.

As part of the award banquet festivities, Edsel B. Ford II and four other judges selected six winners from more than 60 nominees from the United States, Canada, Brazil, Europe, Asia Pacific, Mexico, Africa, and the Middle East. The winners included three domestic dealers from Tenessee, California, and Nebraska, one from Nova Scotia, Canada, another from Baden-Württemberg, Germany, and finally a dealer from [Curitiba, Brazil](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/15619/uber-drivers-in-brazil-protest-proposed-ride-sharing-regulations>).

The Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services will further donate $10,000 to a charity of each of the winners' choice.

## Author
Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/drive_jerry/>)