Drive 4UR Community -A very successful partnership

The local H for H group has received regular support from the Rotary Club for building projects in many impoverished countries with an emphasis in Haiti where a hospital, school, medical clinic and community building have been constructed. This ongoing relationship made the partnership a natural combination.

Participants from the community were recruited to drive a new Ford truck or car for a short test drive and complete a short survey for Ford of Canada. In return, Ford Canada donated $20.00 per test drive to a maximum of 300 participants, to the Rotary Club of St. Marys.

Hope for Haiti was a very active partner and enlisted over 100 volunteer drivers prior to the event day. When the day arrived both groups as well as the local Ford dealership had numerous volunteers to help register the participants, assist with the test drives and answer questions.

The local Tim Hortons provided coffee, Hope for Haiti supplied cookies and Kip Edwards, the Ford Dealer, supplied lunch for all volunteers.

The day was sunny and warm and at the conclusion of the event, we had a total of 285 drivers. In early November, the Rotary Club received a cheque for $5,700 from Ford Canada. But our story doesn't end there. The local Ford dealership provided another cheque for $300 to bring the total donation to $6,000. The Rotary Club considered the role played by the Hope for Haiti group in the success of the day in determining the grant it would provide to the group this year. The proceeds from the event were split $2700/$3300 between Rotary/Hope for Haiti.

The event was a great success for all partners and may provide a template for future cooperative ventures.