Ford Motor Company Donates $1.4 Million to San Diego Environmental Foundation
27 October 2000
Ford Motor Company Donates $1.4 Million to San Diego Environmental Foundation
Grant Will Be Used to Preserve, Protect and Enhance
San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve
SAN DIEGO, Oct. 27 Ford Motor Company will
donate $1.4 million to the San Diego Environmental Foundation (SDEF) for the
preservation, protection and enhancement of the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological
Reserve, which is one of San Diego's and Southern California's most precious
and unique natural resources.
The announcement was made during a special event held today at the San
Elijo Lagoon Conservancy's Nature Center.
"This grant from the Ford Motor Company Fund is the first in many steps we
will be taking to secure funding from various national and international
sources, and to apply those funds to all types of environmental projects in
our region," said Steve Bimson, executive director, SDEF. "I applaud Ford
Motor Company's continued involvement in the environmental and coastal
preservation of San Diego County and the surrounding areas."
Since 1996, Ford Motor Company Fund has donated close to a quarter of a
million dollars to the environmental group Heal the Bay and their Beach Report
Card(TM) program, which monitors and grades the water quality of the coastal
beaches from Santa Barbara County to San Diego County. Ford Motor Company's
environmental brand of vehicles, TH!NK Group, is also currently relocating its
headquarters to Southern California.
"Southern California is an integral part of Ford Motor Company's future
business operations," said Beryl Stajich, manager, Fleet/AFV Brand Team, Ford
Motor Company. "We are committed to being good corporate citizens in the
areas in which we do business and preserving the environment for future
generations. Ford Motor Company Fund's contribution to the San Elijo Lagoon's
revitalization is simply the right thing to do."
SDEF was instrumental in securing the $1.4 million grant from Ford Motor
Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, which will be used
to purchase and manage 25 acres of land surrounding the Reserve. The donation
will be awarded directly to the San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy for acquiring the
25 acres, which will be dubbed the Ford Wildlife Habitat Preserve. The
Conservancy's mission is to preserve, protect and enhance the San Elijo Lagoon
Ecological Reserve, a 900-acre coastal estuary located between Cardiff by the
Sea and Solana Beach.
"This is the largest single donation received by the San Elijo Lagoon
Conservancy," said Doug Gibson, executive director, San Elijo Lagoon
Conservancy. "This money will be used to acquire and manage 25 acres of
critical land surrounding the Reserve, which will provide essential
improvements to the water quality of the lagoon and add valuable habitat to
the Reserve. We thank the San Diego Environmental Foundation and Ford Motor
Company Fund for their recognition of the San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy and the
role it plays in enhancing the quality of life in San Diego County."
"When I was asked to serve on the advisory board of the San Diego
Environmental Foundation, I accepted in the hopes that I could lend political
support to this important environmental cooperation, which brings funding to
the region for preservation and restoration of our important environmental
treasures," said San Diego County Supervisor Pam Slater. "My goal is to
protect our air, waterways, beaches and open space, so I am proud to be a part
of this public-private partnership with the Ford Motor Company and I applaud
their continued involvement in our community."
About the Ford Motor Company Fund
Organized in 1949, Ford Motor Company Fund is the vital and respected
philanthropic unit of Ford Motor Company and supports initiatives and
institutions that improve opportunities for those who live in communities
where Ford Motor Company operates. Ford Motor Company Fund contributes to
organizations enhancing charitable, educational, scientific, environmental,
and cultural standards. Ford Motor Company Fund supports programs and
projects that have a direct impact on the communities in which we operate and
can be used as models for other communities worldwide. Through active
involvement, Ford Motor Company Fund hopes to encourage all corporations to
fulfill their social responsibility and become good corporate citizens.
About the San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy
The San Elijo Lagoon remains one of the very few coastal estuaries that
materially contribute to the health and quality of life for Southern
California's marine life and fisheries, as well as the beaches, coastlines and
communities. It serves as an extraordinary outdoor classroom for young
children to learn about the basics of biological and ecological systems and
why they are vital to all people. The lagoon also provides countless drivers
with daily visual relief and respite from the walls and signs for urban sprawl
up and down Interstate 5. The Conservancy provides an on-going program of
docent-led nature walks, which have been enjoyed by thousands of children and
adults. The SELC has also raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to finance
the dredging of the lagoon mouth and other projects, and managed these
projects to completion. Established in 1989, the San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy
currently has more than 1,000 dues-paying members and provides educational
opportunities at its Nature Center at 2710 Manchester Avenue in Cardiff, which
features an Educational Center, restrooms and trails with viewing decks. For
more information on the Conservancy, call 760-436-3944.
About the San Diego Environmental Foundation
Established in 1998, the San Diego Environmental Foundation's (SDEF)
mission is to educate the general public on actions they may take to reduce
environmental degradation and to support projects that benefit San Diego's
environment. The Foundation's Board of Directors consists of academic,
community and business leaders committed to environmental initiatives. In
addition, an Advisory Board of politicians, professors and environmentalists
assist in formulating and implementing the Foundation's projects. SDEF is
also responsible for establishing the nation's first Regional Transportation
Center (RTC), a $7.9 million facility designed to educate people about the
benefits of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs). Located at the corner of El
Cajon Blvd. and Interstate 15 in City Heights, the RTC will feature the San
Diego Environmental Foundation's Education Center, which will expose 20,000
middle and high school students annually through field trip experiences on the
steps they can take to improve air quality. The RTC is scheduled to open in
Fall 2001. For more information, call 858-350-1774.