DAV (Disabled American Veterans) announced today a generous $200,000 donation from longtime partner Ford Motor Co. that will help support free transportation for America’s injured and ill veterans to medical appointments. The grant will be presented at DAV’s national convention at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Florida, on Aug. 3.

Ford’s gift will fund the purchase of eight new Ford Flex vehicles for the organization’s nationwide Transportation Network, which provides rides for veterans to and from Department of Veterans Affairs medical appointments at no cost. In 2019 alone, Ford has also donated $78,000 to DAV to continue support of the annual DAV and VA co-hosted National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic and DAV’s Jesse Brown Memorial Youth Scholarship Program, which incentivizes young people who volunteer to help veterans and their families.

Ford Motor Co.’s support of America’s veterans dates back to 1922, when Henry Ford organized a cross-country caravan of 50 Model Ts to take disabled veterans to the 1922 DAV National Convention in San Francisco.

“We are extremely proud and appreciative for our long partnership with Ford Motor Co.,” said DAV National Commander Dennis Nixon. “Volunteers nationwide will use these Ford vehicles to guarantee our injured and ill veterans get to and from their medical appointments. Without this program, many of these veterans would simply not be able to access the care they need and have earned.”

Since 1996, Ford has donated 223 vehicles to DAV’s fleet. That’s in addition to the 3,294 Ford vans purchased by DAV, its chapters and departments and the DAV National Service Foundation’s Columbia Trust since 1987. In total, more than $80 million has been dedicated to supporting this critical program.

“Ford has truly made supporting and empowering veterans a part of their mission and legacy,” said Nixon. “Ford is an iconic American brand and we’re thankful they continue to support the men and women who preserve the American way of life.”

 

About DAV

DAV empowers veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. It is dedicated to a single purpose: fulfilling our promises to the men and women who served. DAV does this by ensuring that veterans and their families can access the full range of benefits available to them, fighting for the interests of America’s injured heroes on Capitol Hill, providing employment resources to veterans and their families, and educating the public about the great sacrifices and needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life. DAV, a nonprofit organization with more than 1 million veteran members, was founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932