Ford Fires Engines for Kids

Ford Fires Engines for Kids

Ford’s 23rd year of Variety Bashing

Ford New Zealand will lead September's Variety Mini-Bash car rally, for the 23rd consecutive year.

"The Variety Bash is a natural fit for Ford and not just because it's a fun car rally," says Ford New Zealand National Sales Manager Melissa Rushton.

"Ford gets behind the Bash each year because it supports Kiwi kids, schools and communities," says Rushton. "There are lots of charities that focus on specialist issues - child cancer or illiteracy or any number of worthy causes. But Variety - The Children's Charity helps those kids and communities who fall through the gaps."

Tom Clancy, Ford New Zealand Communications Manager, says, "For us, it's always been about getting out to the communities, being directly involved at a grassroots level and making a difference. The Bash is also a great way for staff and dealers to do something for those that need a helping hand, and have a great time while doing so."

Rushton and Clancy are keen 'bashers' among a regular posse of Ford dealers and employees who relish the funny wigs and silliness that 'Bash' stalwarts bring to the schools and communities through which they pass, much to the delight of children at the schools they visit. But it's seeing kids who need a hand-up getting that help which really fires their engines.

That's where Variety comes in. It raises the funds for the small stuff that's just as vital; the money to pay for books, for an insulin pump or specially adapted computer to let that diabetic or blind kid lead a normal life, for specialist equipment to help a disabled child use the school loo.

How will Ford's involvement help sales? "For us it's never been about sales," says Rushton, "Ford locally and globally believes in doing its part to build a better world."

Every year Ford's Volunteer Corps of more than 27,000 Ford employees and retiree volunteers puts in more than 112,000 hours of work in more than 41 countries on over 1,100 projects – all in Ford’s Global Week of Caring held annually in September. Ford New Zealand's work with Variety – The Children's Charity spans the entire year, but also incorporates a special project as part of Ford's Global Week of Caring.

"No business will do well unless a community is healthy, and that means looking after its more vulnerable members. We've been supporting Variety for more than 20 years because we see first-hand the difference it makes in the lives of Kiwis," added Rushton.

ends

© Scoop Media