More than 700 Ford volunteers completed community projects on May 11 across nine states, including Michigan. Several organizations received grants in the greater Ann Arbor area, including Arbor Hospice of Ann Arbor, where volunteers built a gazebo retreat space for families.

These Ford Accelerated Action Day projects are focused on the environment. The volunteer projects were selected by Ford's nonprofit agency partners, and the auto company provided more than $110,000 in grants to purchase the tools and supplies needed to complete the work by the volunteers.

The gazebo was made possible through a mini grant provided by Ford’s Accelerated Action Day Volunteer program. Arbor Hospice submitted a proposal for building the gazebo as a restful place for hospice clients and their families

In addition to Arbor Hospice, several other Ann Arbor area organizations were chosen by Ford for environment-oriented volunteer projects: Habitat for Humanity Huron Valley of Ann Arbor, where volunteers installed kitchen cabinets, counter tops and flooring in houses; Matthaei Botanical Gardens in Ann Arbor, where volunteers worked to curb trail erosion with a stable gravel surface; and Recycle Ann Arbor, where volunteers used recycled materials to construct storage and work areas.

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