February 22, 2001 Clarice Ryan: Ford donates $5 million to National Audubon Society.
CAG Comment
If you are thinking new car -- DTF!
End CAG Comment
People are incensed about this . . . thank goodness! ! ! I have disposed of my FORD. Good Riddance ! ! Clarice Ryan
From: Pacifictimber@aol.com
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2001
Subject: Ford Donates $5 Million to National Audubon Society
Did we fail to negotiate a fair share of Ford's generosity? After all of
the letters and comments as a result of the Earth Watch donation, Ford has
failed to recognize rural America's contribution towards this abundance of
profit. Perhaps they feel that the SUV market in urban America has greater
value to them. Or perhaps rural America didn't make enough of an effort in
boycotting Ford products.
Ford Donates $5 Million to National Audubon Society
Greetings to all, This thing is beginning to p........s me off. Talked to the president of Grimes (GM) dealership here in Helena yesterday and got some phone numbers for Detroit. Mr. Grimes got real nervous about what I related to him with respect to Ford.
Told him that we needed some money to fight back. That really makes them sqirm. They don't have any choice at this point. If your not with us, you must be against us. GM could us this whole thing in a positive way except for one thing.....they are doing the same thing. We just haven't uncovered it yet. Turn the heat up and take no prisioners.....they won't.
Mike from Montana
From: "Viki Eggers"
Subject: Do you drive a Ford???
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2001
As some of you know, the Ford Motor Company has long been a staunch supporter of the "environmental movement." The Ford Foundation frequently contributes to organizations whose mission seems to be less about preservation of the land than it is about the exclusion of folks like you and me from the public lands where we recreate. Recently FMC awarded a $5 Million Dollar Grant to the Audubon Society!!
The following letter is one of many that recreationists, particularly Ford owners are sending to the Company.
I hope you will give this matter some thought, and take the time to drop the company a note or call them on their toll free line to let them know how you feel about their support of environmental extremists.
Bill Ford, Chairman of the Board
Ford Motor Company
16800 Executive Plaza Drive
P.O.Box 6248
Dearborn, Michigan 48126
1-800-392-3673(FORD)
(I am unable to find an email address for Ford....If anybody locates one, please let me know!)
Thanks!
Viki
Dear Mr. Ford:
I am deeply troubled at Ford Motor Company's (FMC) recent contribution to The Audubon Society (NAS). The goal of this organization is not to protect and wisely use the environment, but to stop all human access to it. They are extremists to the core. The NAS has been instrumental in denying Multiple Use groups access to public lands. These groups include activities such as 4x4 recreation, motorcycling, boating, horseback riding, mountain biking, winter sports, hiking, rock climbing, just to name a few. All of these recreational activities require the use of some sort of vehicle to get to the outdoors. For the last several years, millions of people have been using Ford trucks and SUVs for family recreation. In return, the company (FMC) that these people choose to support with their hard earned money, donates money to an organization (NAS) set out to end Motorized Recreation and Multiple Use of public lands.
This does not seem like a logical move to me. Why would a company that makes products for use in the outdoors give a grant (not just any grant, $5 million, the largest grant the NAS has ever received) to an organization that wants to eliminate the use of such products (and many others) on our public lands?
How does FMC expect to sell vehicles people can't use? I was considering one of the Ford Powerstroke Diesels as my next vehicle. It would have been used to tow my 4x4, motorcycle, and boat so as to allow my family to spend quality time together in the great outdoors together.
Unfortunately, I feel the FMC, according to its recent actions, does not wish for me and my family to be able to enjoy the great outdoors. I will be looking to your competitors for a vehicle to suit my family's needs.
I look forward to hearing from you on your thoughts and explanations for this seemingly thoughtless decision.
Sincerely,
"Leaders are visionaries with a poorly developed sense of fear and no concept of the odds against them....They make things happen." -- Dr. Robert Jarvick
-----Original Message-----
From: Ken Hoovestol [mailto:kenhoovestol@juno.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2001 5:37 PM
I would hope that all clear thinking people would never buy another Ford product. They have chosen sides, let them live with it.!!!!!!!!!! ----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "Clarice Ryan" <clardon@digisys.net>
To: "Chuck Samuelson \(E-mail\)" <chucksam@digisys.net>
Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2001 20:45:33 -0700
Subject: Ford Donates $5 Million to National Audubon Society
Message-ID: <00a201c09aef$adb8bb00$75e5ced1@temp>
Maybe we should all join the Audubon Society so we can tap into this wonderful financial resource. I'm sure we can all find a bird to befriend. Who doesn't like birds? We all hate to see their nesting places destroyed by forest fires. With proper funding it should help us to protect their forest habitat and prevent loss of food supply due to excess fuel build-up and brush in the forests. Clarice
-----Original Message-----
From: dale e. anderson <pfia@ncentral.com>
To: J. Zane Walley <frc@pvtnetworks.net>; Clark Collins
<brclark@sharetrails.org>
Date: Monday, February 19, 2001 9:38 AM
Subject: Rest of the Ford story
Ford Donates $5 Million to National Audubon Society
NEW YORK, Feb. 16 -/E-Wire/-- The National Audubon Society today announced a $5 million grant from Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), the largest corporate gift the National Audubon Society has ever received. The Grant Funds Audubon Projects in the U.S. and Latin America.
Ford's donation, made possible by Ford Motor Company Fund, will support citizen science, education and conservation programs that protect wildlife and engage children and adults in developing an understanding and appreciation of nature that lasts throughout their lifetimes. Projects funded by Ford's grant include BirdSource, the Audubon Important Bird Areas Program, Audubon Citizen Science projects, and the Latin-America-based Schoolyard Ecology Program.
"As we move into the new century, we do so knowing that the planet we inhabit is a complex and fragile one. Our goal is to give people the information they need to think globally and the tools they need to act locally," said Audubon President and CEO John Flicker. "Ford's generous support of Audubon's programs will provide the tools and resources needed to create stewards who recognize the necessity of a healthy environment -- whether they live in the rainforests of Guyana or in Urban America."
BirdSource, at www.birdsource.org , is a web-based alliance of citizens and scientists working together to identify, track, and monitor bird populations throughout the Americas. Created by Audubon and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, it is a critical tool in maintaining biodiversity while harnessing the potential of citizen science. Ford Motor Company's donation will allow Audubon to upgrade BirdSource technology while adding features that aid users in bird identification and information retrieval. "Ford's generosity will allow BirdSource to establish itself as the primary technology hub for monitoring of wildlife populations in North America," said Flicker.
"We like to invest in long-term educational and environmental initiatives that allow new dialogue and learning," said Sandy Ulsh, Vice President, executive director, Ford Motor Company Fund. "Ford's partnership with National Audubon supports this weekend's bird counts, helps provide more on- line information for consumers and acts as a catalyst to increase community involvement."
Ford also will fund Audubon Citizen Science directly, becoming the primary sponsor of the Great Backyard Bird Count (February 16 - 19, 2001). As America's premier citizen science project, Audubon's Great Backyard Bird Count relies on amateurs, who observe and track bird populations in their neighborhoods every February. Ford's sponsorship allows Audubon to build and engage a network of more than 200,000 citizen scientists in the U.S. and Canada, who will monitor birds and key environmental indicators in real time. Audubon will also introduce the Great Backyard Bird Count to 10 countries in Latin America and extend its Christmas Bird Count participation there to include 10,000 more participants by 2005.
Finally, Ford's support will allow Audubon to expand the reach of its Latin-America-based Schoolyard Ecology program. Focusing on capacity building and education, the program offers training workshops, materials and manuals filled with activities that teachers can use to focus children's natural curiosity about their surroundings.
Founded in 1905, Audubon connects people with nature through education and experience on the land. Audubon helps children, families, and adults from all walks of life develop an understanding of and appreciation for the environment. Audubon inspires them and gives them the tools to act on behalf of the environment -- in their own homes and communities, as well as on the national level and beyond.
Ford Motor Company is the world's second largest automaker, with approximately 335,000 employees in 200 markets on six continents. Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic unit of Ford Motor Company, supports initiatives and institutions that improve opportunities for those who live in communities where Ford Motor Company operates. Ford Motor Company Fund contributes to organizations enhancing charitable, educational, scientific, environmental, and cultural standards. For more information regarding Ford's charitable giving and corporate citizenship initiatives, log on to www.ford.com .
SOURCE Ford Motor Company
-0- 02/16/2001 P
/NOTE TO EDITORS: Go to http://media.ford.com for news releases and high-resolution photographs./
/CONTACT: Gwynne Irvin of Ford Motor Company, 313-323-0646, girvin@ford.com , or Ford Media Information Center, 800-665-1515, 313-621-0504, media@ford.com ; or John Bianchi of National Audubon Society, 212-979-3026, jbianchi@audubon.org /(F)
/Web site: http://www.birdsource.org /
/Web site: http://www.ford.com /