Ford Philanthropy’s Global Caring Month is in full swing with more than 5,000 employees making an impact through 189 projects across 30 countries. Join us throughout the month as we celebrate the incredible work of our employee volunteers.
Today, we're highlighting the stories of Ana-Maria Boboc, a Cybersecurity Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) Supervisor with Ford Romania who volunteered with OvidiuRO to expand access to early childhood education and Sophia Chong, a Environmental & Safety Compliance Manager with Ford Australia who worked with FareShare to combat hunger and food waste.
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Ana Boboc (front center) facilitated a series of reading activities for Ford volunteers, working closely with teachers and OvidiuRO to ensure a successful and enriching experience for local children.
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Sophia Chong (in the green shirt) rallied a team of 11 Ford volunteers to pack single-serve meals for the Melbourne community.
Q: What inspired you to volunteer during Global Caring Month?
Ana-Maria: This is my second year participating and I see it as the perfect opportunity to make a tangible difference through a Ford-backed initiative. I chose to volunteer with OvidiuRO because I believe every child deserves a fair chance to succeed, starting with early education.
Sophia: After a busy two years in Melbourne, I wanted to give back in a meaningful way. Since no other projects were available due to the pandemic, I organized one with FareShare, preparing and distributing meals in our community and have continued to be engaged with the organization ever since.
Q: Can you describe the project you’re supporting?
Ana-Maria: We donated a mini library and sensory kits to one of OvidiuRO's partner schools to foster a love of reading and create a fun, interactive learning environment. It’s all about giving the kids the tools they need to explore their potential.
Sophia: FareShare runs Australia’s largest non-profit kitchens, turning donated and rescued food into nutritious meals for soup vans, shelters, women refugees, First Nations groups, and disaster relief groups. Their main objective is to support the basic human right to access healthy food, which aligns perfectly with our values at Ford.
Q: What impact do you hope to see from this project?
Ana-Maria: I hope this project brings us one step closer to ensuring all children in Romania have access to quality education. Seeing the kids’ faces light up as they dive into the books and activities is incredibly rewarding.
Sophia: With a growing need to ensure everyone has access to nutritious food, I hope FareShare’s meals can continue to provide immediate relief to those who need it most. It's fulfilling to know we're supporting people during challenging times and bringing our team together for a meaningful cause.
Get Involved
Through the Ford Volunteer Corps, Ford employees can help address community issues they care about. Salaried employees are entitled to 16 hours of paid community service. U.S.-based employees can join the Global Caring Month community in Deed to find projects, connect with peers and share photos and stories. Don't wait – projects are filling up fast!
Stay tuned to learn more about the efforts of our dedicated volunteers!
