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Monday, 10 October, 2011 6:26 PM
Ford
Ramps Up Presence in 85th America’s Thanksgiving Parade, Unveils
Partnership to Help Families in Need
Ford and The Parade Company will launch a four-month campaign
to feed the hungry through Gleaners Community Food Bank
Graphic
credit: The Parade Company
Ford
Motor Company is sponsoring the "Driving a Brighter
Future" float for the 2011 America's Thanksgiving Parade.
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DETROIT —
Ford Motor Company, Ford Motor Company Fund and The Parade
Company today announced a major partnership that increases Ford’s
longtime support of one of the country’s largest and longest-running
parades – America’s Thanksgiving Parade®. In addition,
Bill and Lisa Ford will serve as this year’s co-grand marshals
for the parade, which is celebrating its 85th anniversary on Thursday,
Nov. 24.
“It’s an honor to take part in a time-honored tradition
that is enjoyed by millions of families across the country,”
said Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford. “It also is a great
opportunity to rally the community to reach out and help our neighbors
in need during the upcoming holiday season and beyond.”
During the week of Nov. 7, Ford Motor Company, Ford Motor Company
Fund and The Parade Company will launch a community outreach program
and multimedia campaign to encourage monetary and food donations
to Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan, which
has experienced an increase of 60 percent in people served since
2006. The campaign, “Ford: Driving Food Home for the Holidays
and Beyond,” will run through the end of February to support
Michigan’s hungry families through the holidays and later
winter months.
As the official vehicle of the 85th America’s Thanksgiving
Parade, more than 40 Ford cars and trucks will participate in the
parade, with the new Ford Focus Electric in the lead as official
pace car. F-Series trucks, Mustangs and other Ford vehicles will
participate in other parade activities such as carrying celebrities
and pulling floats.
“Ford Motor Company and the Ford family are beloved by Detroiters
and they have invested substantially in the city and region for
generations,” said Tony Michaels, president and CEO, The Parade
Company. “We want to thank Bill and Lisa Ford and Ford Motor
Company, for being a major supporter of The Parade Company and America's
Thanksgiving Parade, and also for their overwhelming commitment
to make a positive impact in the lives of so many in need through
Gleaners Community Food Bank.”
Ford’s “Driving a Brighter Future” float will
be featured in the parade, and the Ford Focus Electric will serve
as the float’s highlighted vehicle. The Parade Company art
staff worked closely with Ford employees to design the float and
Ford employee volunteers assisted The Parade Company with the build.
This year’s America’s Thanksgiving Parade theme, “So
Much to Believe In,” will feature crowd favorites and new
surprises with more than 60 parade units, including floats, balloons,
marching bands, clowns and specialty acts. The 1.5-mile-long parade
steps off at 9:05 a.m. at Woodward Avenue and Mack and ends at Woodward
and Congress in downtown Detroit. The two-hour parade will be featured
locally on WDIV-Local 4, and the first hour will be part of a nationally
syndicated broadcast. News/Talk 760 WJR also will broadcast live
from the parade.
Source: The Parade
Company / Ford Motor Co.
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