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