YMCA of Greater Rochester Receives Brand New Van from Ford Friendship Express

Rochester, NY – Rochester Area Ford Dealers welcomed the YMCA of Greater Rochester to the Ford Friendship Express family. The organization joined a growing list of more than a dozen nonprofits in the Rochester area that have received new Ford passenger vans through the program. The Ford Transit Connect passenger van will allow the YMCA of Greater Rochester to expand the reach of its services.

The Rochester Area Ford Dealers revealed the YMCA of Greater Rochester as this year’s recipient in a special key presentation ceremony at the kick-off of the Ford EcoBoost Challenge® at Monroe Community College. “The YMCA of Greater Rochester has served the diverse needs of the Rochester community for over 150 years,” said Rich Wilkinson, representative of the Ford Friendship Express Selection Committee. “We’re proud to give back to an organization so invested in improving the lives of Rochester’s residents.”

Nonprofit organizations residing in Monroe, Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, and Waynecounties are encouraged to apply annually. This year the Ford Friendship Express Selection Committee received dozens of applications from inspiring nonprofit groups in the Rochester area, before narrowing down the final recipient to the YMCA of Greater Rochester. The new van will help housebound senior citizens become more active in the community and also provide greater access to after-school programs for Rochester teenagers. 

“At the Y, we recognize that for our communities to succeed everyone must be given the opportunity to be healthy, confident, connected and secure.  With our doors open to all, we work every day to ensure that everyone has a place to belong at the Y”, said Todd Gray, senior vice president of philanthropy for the YMCA of Greater Rochester. “We’re so excited to have yet another tool to help us fulfill our mission thanks to Ford Friendship Express. The new van will provide cross-generational opportunities for greater access and participation at the YMCA. We can’t thank the Ford Dealers enough for this gift.”

 To date, the Ford Friendship Express program has donated more than a dozen vans valued at nearly $450,000.

 “Ford Friendship Express allows us to support the incredible local organizations who are making a difference in our neighborhoods every day,” said Wilkinson. “We’re proud to give back to the Rochester community in the way we know best – providing reliable transportation.”

 Last year, Lifespan, a nonprofit serving seniors and adult caregivers, received a new Ford van. Additional past recipients include: The YWCA of Rochester and Monroe County, ABVI-Goodwill, Boys and Girls Club of Rochester, Foodlink, Rochester St. Martin’s Boxing Club, Wilson Commencement Park and more. Applications for the 2016 Ford Friendship Express program will be available this fall at: www.RochesterAreaFordDealers.com.

About the Rochester Area Ford Dealers

The Rochester Area Ford Dealers are part of the Western New York Ford Stores, an advertising cooperative comprised of 39 dealer locations that provides support for Ford vehicle sales and service in the 13 counties of Western New York and Rochester, and three counties in Northern Pennsylvania. For more information, please visit: www.RochesterAreaFordDealers.com. View and subscribe to news from the Rochester Area Ford Dealers here: http://tinyurl.com/WNYFordNewsroom.

About the Ford EcoBoost Challenge

Ford EcoBoost® Challenge gives consumers across America a fun and free weekend opportunity to test drive the hottest and most innovative Ford products and features. For 2015, EcoBoost Challenge expands to 17 cities, and provides participants a chance to win an EcoBoost-powered 2015 Ford Edge. EcoBoost® Challenge features the most highly anticipated Ford models, including all-new 2015 F-150 and Mustang. For more information, please visit the Ford Motor Company Website.