Response from Ford re: Audubon Support

[jeffd]

All:

Here is the response from Ford I received after sending them an e-mail voicing my concern over their support of the Audubon Society.

-jeffd

+++
Dear Mr. D******:
Thank you for your comments about Ford Motor Company Fund's grant to the National Audubon Society. We appreciate you taking the time to bring your concerns to our attention, and helping raise our awareness of different points of view.

First, I want to clarify that our grants in the environmental area concentrate on educational initiatives. Our intent with the National Audubon Society grant was meant in this spirit, and it was limited to environmental education and bird monitoring programs, however, we understand your concerns.

Ford Fund is the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company. Education is Ford Fund's top priority, and our environmental grants are only a small part of our overall giving. The Fund supports non-profit organizations in five priority areas - education; environment; public policy, health and welfare; civic affairs and community development, and arts and humanities.

Ford Motor Company values its customers, and we appreciate your loyalty. Your comments have raised our awareness, and are helpful as we evaluate future contributions.

Thank you for contacting us.

Sincerely,

Sandra E. Ulsh

 

[longtime]

I've read, and written, spongy letters -- but that person has got a gift. That letter said nothing. :silly:

 

[taraker]

Actually, I have a copy of the letter & that's not what it said at all.

Here it is in it's entirety

Dear Mr. Dufus:

Thank you for your comments about Ford Motor Company Fund's grant to the National Audubon Society. We could care less about you taking the time to bring your concerns to our attention, and helping raise our awareness of idiot point of view.

First, I want to clarify that we are a tree hugging commie pinko's here at Ford Motor Co. and our grants in the environmental area concentrate on educational initiatives, and we think it unnecessary to justify our position to a Chevrolet driven fool like you anyway. Our intent with the National Audubon Society grant was to hack you off and we are happy to see we have accomplished this objective.

Ford Fund is the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company. Education is Ford Fund's top priority, and our environmental grants are only a small part of our overall giving but explaining this to a tightwad minibike riding pansy like you is pointless. The Fund supports profit organizations in five priority areas - cigarettes, liquor; weapons; public flogging and I forget the other one.

Ford Motor Company hates its customers, and we resent your loyalty. Your comments have been ignored so please go away and avoid any further contributions.

Thank you for contacting us.

Sincerely,

Sandra E. Lush

:scream: :confused:

 

[jeffd]

Oh you are too funny. Yes, the letter was basically hollow, but I thought it was worth posting anyway. I was surprised I got any response from them.

Taraker, on the other hand, I always expect a response from you.:think

However, if more people take the time to do as I did then perhaps our point can be made more clearly. Taraker - if you had taken 1/2 the time to compose a real letter to Ford instead of that parody you posted it might do some good for the cause. :scream:

BTW - as to the content you added: I drive a Mustang GT, the Suburban is the wife's ride and it is a GMC (badge engineering used to avoid driving a Chevy).

Tightwad?? Ha! Just call me "cost conscious" :)

Minibike riding pansy? Oh boy... Yes, I ride a 125. I think we have covered that one. Pansy? Let's see how many times did I stop and puke during my 1st cross country race??? Answer - ZERO! Now what about you??? I think it was at least 1-2 times! BwaaaHaaaHaaa!!!:p
See you at the races! And no, you can't use my hydro-pack to rinse the puke taste out of yer mouth ;)

-jeffd

 

[Jaybird]

Completely hollow? I think the letter did contain a couple of items. For one, the phrase "...in this spirit" was used which tells me that they have nothing else they can say about the monies already given so they resort to BS. And two, letters like yours brought thier level of awareness up and will contribute to the consideration of contributions in the future. Or...you scored with your letter and, more than likely, the side with the most scores will win the nice fat prizes in the future.

:think
The question is, do off-road lobbys have what it takes to combat the green?
Greenies have sure learned to love that money and they know how to use it.
(is there a song in there somewhere?)

 

[buffmaster]

Boys, boys, boys! If I have to stop the car and come back there, you'll be sorry!:debil: :eek:

 

[VintageDirt]

Here's the response I got...

Dear Mr. Baca:

Thank you for your comments about Ford Motor Company Fund's grant to the National Audubon Society. We appreciate you taking the time to bring your concerns to our attention, and helping raise our awareness of different points of view.

First, I want to clarify that our grants in the environmental area concentrate on educational initiatives. Our intent with the National Audubon Society grant was meant in this spirit, and it was limited to environmental education and bird monitoring programs, however, we understand your concerns.

It also is important to clarify that the other grants discussed in the Paragon Foundation piece were given by the Ford Foundation in New York. The Ford Foundation is a separate entity from Ford Motor Company. No member of the Ford family or Ford Motor Company management is on Ford Foundation's Board of Directors. To have your questions or comments about the Ford Foundation's grants addressed, please contact them directly.

In Paragon's article, the author also references the October 2000 speech by our chairman and CEO, Bill Ford, at the annual Greenpeace Business Conference in London. Although the company has not contributed financially to this organization, nor addressed its membership before, we believe this provided a unique opportunity to discuss some of the initiatives taken by Ford Motor Company to voluntarily reduce plant and vehicle effects on the environment.

Ford Fund is the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company. Education is Ford Fund's top priority, and our environmental grants are only a small part of our overall giving. The Fund supports non-profit organizations in five priority areas – education; environment; public policy, health and welfare; civic affairs and community development, and arts and humanities.

Ford Motor Company values its customers, and we appreciate your loyalty. Your comments have raised our awareness, and are helpful as we evaluate future contributions.

Thank you for contacting us.

Sincerely,

Sandra E. Ulsh

 

[jeffd]

Originally posted by buffmaster
Boys, boys, boys! If I have to stop the car and come back there, you'll be sorry!:debil: :eek:

All in good fun. I only tease Taraker so much because, well, he deserves it!

:p :p :p

As for the letters, it looks as if Sandra E. Ulsh is at the very least somewhat busy sending out letters that are partially tailored to the original sender's concerns.

I say we send more letters and e-mails and let these guys know we are serious!

-jeffd

 

[BSWIFT]

I say we send more letters and e-mails and let these guys know we are serious!

I agree. I got the same letter a few days ago and posted it. Why did I think it was unique? DOOH!