Ford’s Annual Conservation & Environmental Grants Programme for 2002
Ford Malaysia has announced that Ford Motor Company’s annual conservation & environmental grants programme for the year 2002 has been launched and for the third year running, this programme will also be offered to Malaysian individuals, environmental organisations and community groups.
As in the previous years, the programme is offering RM247, 000 in grants to on-going conservation and environmental initiatives and is divided into four categories: Natural Environment, Conservation Engineering, Heritage and Child and Youth Projects.
Ever since its inception in the year 2000, the Malaysian edition of the Ford Motor Company Environmental Grants Programme has been a key torch-bearer for environmental and community service causes, seeding projects and nurturing a culture of responsibility and understanding towards issues that affect our future as a people and a nation. With the aid of the grant, last year’s winners have conducted many activities. These projects are spread across a variety of areas that include environmental, social and heritage projects.
For example, Wetlands International Malaysia produced an information booklet and a CD-ROM on the culture and knowledge of the indigenous Semelai people of Tasek Bera in Pahang. The SAY NO, RUN, TELL, Personal Safety Programme, organised by PS The Children was an effort to teach children and adults on how to recognise and deal with signs of child abuse. Under the heritage category, restoration was conducted on a shophouse at Heeren Street to demonstrate how early shophouses such as the unique building types only found in Malacca can be restored to high levels of authenticity.
Ford Motor Company’s Conservation & Environmental Grants programme is a continuation of the successful Henry Ford Conservation Awards, which was launched in Europe in 1983. It is one of the world’s largest programmes of this kind offering a total grant of RM3.8 million annually worldwide.
“Every year, we receive quite a number of very interesting and enthusiastic responses. This year, we are opening our doors again and welcome as many applications as possible, no matter how small. Our pledge is for you to give yourselves a chance by taking first step forward and giving us this opportunity to help you,” said Ford Malaysia Marketing Manager T.H. Chong.
As this is the third year the programme is being run in Malaysia, Ford Malaysia hopes to increase awareness of and instil responsibility towards supporting these causes. Applications for the programme are judged based on five key elements – usefulness, practicality, replicability, originality and dedication.
A panel of judges is being selected from a broad spectrum of specialisations to evaluate participating projects and select the ones that are most deserving. The closing date for submissions will be at the end of the day on September 9 2002. To obtain the official entry form or to inquire further regarding the programme, please call the Ford Motor Company Conservation & Environmental Grants hotline at (03) 2718 8268 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. during weekdays, or visit the website at www.ecoford.com.
“Ford is committed to work towards striking a balance between our business activities and our responsibility towards the environment and the community,” said Deborah Aronson, Managing Director of Ford Malaysia. “Ford views the Grants Programme as a platform to give deserving causes the opportunity to make a difference. With this in mind, we work together with distinguished judges from various backgrounds to ensure that each participating project will be evaluated fairly and provided the greatest benefit within their relevant categories.”
