Ford Korea held the ‘2023 Ford Grants Night’ on the 30th at Onzderom Myeongdong, successfully concluding the Ford Korea’s major social contribution activity, the ‘Ford Environmental Support Program.’
The 2023 Ford Environmental Support Program selected eight teams to operate under the theme ‘We are Green Future’ since June, focusing on five topics: climate tech, low-carbon food, resource circulation, biodiversity, and eco-friendly travel. Each team received up to 10 million won in activity funds.
This year’s Ford Grants Night, which marks the conclusion of the Ford Environmental Support Program, served as a platform for the supported groups to present the results and reflections from their activities conducted over approximately three months, sharing genuine thoughts on future environmental considerations and actionable practices. The event also featured a talk concert on environmental issues with Vice President Song Gil-young of Vibe Company, titled ‘How We Protect Our Environment Alone,’ and artist Yojo’s ‘A Peaceful Earth Created by Small People.’
The representative of the Sea Life Network, a participant in this year’s supported groups, Choi Eun-won, stated, “Through this Ford Environmental Support Program, we were able to explore various methods to respond to the environmental crisis and activities to implement them. I hope more people can think about the future and engage in activities to protect the environment through the Ford Environmental Support Program in the future,” she expressed.
Marketing Communication Executive Director Noh Seon-hee from Ford Korea mentioned, “We have continuously supported various environmental activities for the past 22 years with a consistent interest in environmental movements. Ford Korea will actively strive to create a sustainable future not only through the Ford Environmental Support Program but also through various social contribution activities.”
The ‘Ford Environmental Support Program’, which began in 2002 and has been consistently operated for 22 years, supports individuals and organizations engaged in ecosystem and environmental protection in Korea. Over the past 22 years, it has provided approximately 700 million won to more than 151 organizations.
Moreover, to enhance the professionalism and fairness of Ford Korea’s environmental support program, it has been co-organized with the Environmental Foundation, the first environmental nonprofit foundation in Korea, for the past five years.
Meanwhile, Ford recognized the importance of sustainable development through environmental protection and conducted its first environmental protection program under the name ‘Henry Ford Environmental Protection Award’ in Europe in 1983. In Korea, the program was introduced in 2002 as discussions about corporate social responsibility began, supporting various community-based eco-friendly projects.
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr