Ford Partners with Feeding America to Make Experiencing the All-New Escape a Charitable Endeavor

• Ford and Feeding America^®, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization, will kick off the 2013 Ford Escape Hunger Drive in various cities around the United States

• Guests at each Hunger Drive event will have the opportunity to experience smart features on the all-new Ford Escape, including its hands-free liftgate, EcoBoost^® engine, active park assist and Blind Spot Information System (BLIS^®) technologies

• For each guest attending, Ford will provide 40 meals to Feeding America. In total, Feeding America expects to help provide more than 1.2 million meals through the campaign

 

DEARBORN, Mich., July 13, 2012 – Participants in the 2013 Ford Escape Hunger Drive will get to feed people facing hunger this summer, while also getting a chance to experience Ford’s all-new small utility vehicle that is loaded with smart technologies.

 

Ford and Feeding America^®, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization, will enable participants in all regions of the United States to host events where guests will be able to drive, walk around, or ride in the all-new Escape. In turn, Ford will provide 40 meals per guest to people at risk of hunger. Ford and Feeding America will help provide more than 1.2 million meals total. Participants will also receive a Ford backpack and automatic entry into a sweepstake.

 

“Ford has always embraced helping people in need, and this is a good way to give back to the community, while simultaneously showcasing the all-new Escape,” said Crystal Worthem, Ford Brand Content and Alliances Marketing manager. “For the first time, Ford is linking its charity support with bringing a new vehicle to market.”

 

Those interested in organizing an event can find information at http://www.escapehungerdrive.com. Event organizers will be fully supported by Ford, which will provide an all-new Escape for their event along with an expert to explain the attributes of the new sport utility vehicle.

 

“We at Feeding America are proud of our longstanding relationship with Ford,” said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America. “Ford has a history of merging transportation with hunger relief efforts, and we are grateful they are extending that partnership linked to the  2013 Escape to help us get food to millions of families struggling with hunger.”

 

Guests at each Hunger Drive event will have the opportunity to experience the smart features of the all-new Escape. Ford specialists will be at each event to walk participants through the Escape and provide information on the vehicle’s characteristics and technologies including its class-exclusive, hands-free liftgate, fuel-efficient EcoBoost^® engine, active park assist and Blind Spot Information System (BLIS^®).

 

These drive-for-charity events could take place anywhere within a supporter’s community. An event could be tied to already-scheduled events at churches, community centers or other civic organizations. The first events are slated to kick off later this month.

 

Ford Motor Company Fund, in partnership with Newman’s Own, has already provided 103 Ford refrigerated trucks to Feeding America affiliates through an 11-year initiative called Partnership for Hunger Relief. The fleet has delivered more than 176 million meals to families throughout all 50 states.

 

“We believe it is critical to support people in need and we have been doing so throughout our company’s 108-year history,” said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services.