Ford celebrated 100th anniversary with Hispanic initiatives - Mundo Latino: news events

Latino Leaders: The National Magazine of the Successful American Latino, August-Sept, 2003

During the Centennial festivities, Ford Motor Company demonstrated its commitment and dedication to the Hispanic community through its various Hispanic initiatives such as Minority Supplier and Dealer Diversity Development.

Through these programs, Ford Motor Company continuously generates opportunities for minority-owned businesses as well as providing minorities with the tools to completely own a dealership and maintain a business. Ford also created the "Health on Wheels" program to help foster the education of Hispanics on the importance of regular health check-ups and adequate medical treatment.

Recently more than 100,000 customers, employees, retirees, investors, dealers, automotive enthusiasts, and history buffs helped Ford mark a century of leadership and progress at the Henry Ford II World Center in Dearborn.

"In terms of economic and social influence, no company had a greater impact on the lives of people around the world in the 20th Century than Ford Motor Company," said chairman and CEO Bill Ford. "We helped put the world on wheels by mass-producing simple, reliable automobiles that the average family could afford. Clearly, that's a legacy worth celebrating."

Among the many lasting legacies of company founder Henry Ford are the widespread use of the moving assembly line which revolutionized manufacturing, the introduction of the $5 per day wage that helped create the working middle class in the United States, and the creation of the Model T, voted "Car of the Century" by a panel of international journalists in 1999. Other great products over the years put Ford's mark on the world's automotive landscape, including the Model A, Lincoln Continental, F-Series, Mustang, Thunderbird, Falcon, Capri, Taurus and Explorer.

Upon entering the property, visitors were immersed into a sea of Ford Motor Company cars and trucks, with more than 3,000 classic and current models, as well as future concepts, on display.

"If you look at our 100-year history," Bill Ford said "it's clear that our success has always been driven by great products. Our centennial gives us an opportunity to rededicate ourselves to that heritage of outstanding products, and use it to build our future. Starting with the new 2004 F-150 and continuing with the Ford Five Hundred, Freestyle and an all-new Mustang, we have some really exciting vehicles on the way and we will keep this positive momentum going."

Looking ahead to the future is an important theme of Ford's Centennial celebration.

Our goal is to have an even greater positive impact on people's lives in our second century than we did in our first," Bill Ford said.

Ford innovations have not been confined to the auto industry. Ford Motor Company was also a pioneer in commercial aviation. That history is recounted in a "Countdown to Kitty Hawk" display commemorating another Centennial this year-the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers' historic first flight.

Ford innovations in environmental stewardship and the development of safety technology continue to the present day.