By Kelsey Blaylock
The aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, the first major hurricane to reach landfall in America in twelve years, left numerous communities destroyed. One of the most devastated areas in the United States was Texas.
Ford Motor Company decided to take action by committing to raise more than $3.5 million to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey. They also created the “Texas Is Family” package to assist customers whose vehicles were lost or destroyed in the storm.
Ford CEO and president Jim Hackett told the press: “Our hearts go out to all of those affected by Hurricane Harvey. Texas is like family for Ford.”
The company donated a total of $500,000 to multiple organizations for disaster relief in Texas. These organizations included the Salvation Army, the American Red Cross, Toolbank, Team Rubicon, and Catholic Charities.
The Ford dealerships located in the Texas area also contributed to their home state by donating $200,000 through the Cowboys-Texans telethon and committed to raise more than $1 million dollars, specifically for local charities and to aid dealership employees. The company intends to match the money raised by up to $1.5 million, which will then be donated to certain community charities.
The “Texas Is Family” package is another way Ford is helping the families affected by Hurricane Harvey. The package is a cheap and easy way for those impacted to be able to obtain new vehicles due to theirs being destroyed or abandoned during the storm. The bundle includes the purchasing of a new vehicle at below-invoice prices with no payments required until the following year.
Current customers that were impacted were also offered a deal to apply to have their payments deferred for two months due to the possible financial circumstances caused by the storm. A special $1,000 reduction towards a new Ford or Lincoln vehicle also became available to the first responders in areas affected by Hurricane Harvey.
Ford Motor Company helped rebuild people’s lives and showed tremendous support towards hurricane-affected families as well as their current employees. They created options for customers to get their lives back on track. Ford supplied the people impacted by Hurricane Harvey with more than just a new vehicle, but also with the hope of recovery.