Ford Presidential Foundation Launches $12 Million FORD50 Campaign for Civic Education

Honoring 50 Years of President Ford’s Legacy with Bold Programs that Champion Integrity and Public Service

The Ford Presidential Foundation officially launched the FORD50 Campaign, a $12 million national fundraising initiative, honoring the 50th anniversary of President Gerald R. Ford’s time in the Oval Office (1974-1977) by expanding its civic education programs across Michigan and the nation.

The announcement at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum featured Foundation trustees Mike and Steven Ford, sons of President and Mrs. Ford; Douglas DeVos, co-chair of Amway Corporation and co-chair of the Ford50 campaign; Marc Halsema, founder of Jaclise International and co-chair of the Ford50 campaign; and Gleaves Whitney, executive director of the Ford Presidential Foundation.

In its quiet phase, the campaign has secured $10 million in charitable commitments and is now seeking public participation in raising the final $2 million to fund the educational programming expansion.

The FORD50 Campaign is a bold commitment to engage and inspire three key audiences — school-aged youth, college-aged and young adults, and lifelong learners — through programming that champions the values President and Mrs. Ford embodied: cooperation, bipartisanship, civil discourse, patriotism, decency, and integrity.

“In a time of deep national division, the legacy of President and Mrs. Ford offers a much-needed example of character-driven leadership,” said Whitney. “With the support of the FORD50 Campaign, we can bring their ideals to new generations and build a future rooted in civic responsibility and mutual respect.”

Ford50 Campaign Committee members include (from right): Doug DeVos (co-chair), Mike Ford, Steve Ford and Marc Halsema (co-chair)

Media Coverage of Ford50 Campaign

WKZO (Ken Lanphear) - Kalamazoo

Gerald R. Ford Foundation launches a Campaign for Civic Education

9/3/25

1290 WLBY (Lucy Ann Lance) - Ann Arbor

Ford50 Campaign - Gleaves Whitney

9/2/25

Traverse City Record-Eagle

Editorial: It’s about civility

8/30/25

WXYZ

Spotlight on the News: History, education & principles; Dr. Ossian H. Sweet & President Gerald R. Ford (Starts at about the 14 minute mark)

8/29/25

MLive

Hello, Grand Rapids: $12M effort hopes to ‘keep it civil’ in honor of President Ford

8/29/25

WJIM (The Steve Gruber Show) - Lansing

Gleaves Whitney | Ford’s Legacy of Civility for a Divided America

8/28/25

MSN - Nationwide

Ford Foundation launches $12M campaign to close political divide

8/27/25

WGVU (Shelley Irwin) - Grand Rapids

The Gerald R Ford Presidential Foundation has launched a $12 million FORD50 campaign for Civic Education

8/27/25

Gongwer - Capital Insider

Ford Presidential Foundation launches new civic engagement initiative

8/26/25

MIRS - Capital Insider

Gerald R. Ford Foundation Seeks $2M For Political Civility Campaign

8/26/25

Detroit News

Livengood: Gerald Ford's admirers laying groundwork for national healing amid divisive presidency

8/26/25

Yahoo! News - National 

‘Be a public servant’: Ford Foundation launches civic education initiative (Picked up from WOOD)

WGVU 

Ford Presidential Foundation announces $12 million expansion of education programs

8/25/25

Michigan Public - NPR - Statewide

Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation Launches $12 million campaign for civic education

8/25/25

WOOD - Grand Rapids

‘Be a public servant’: Ford Foundation launches civic education initiative

8/25/25

MidMichiganNow - Flint

Gerald R. Ford foundation launching $12 million campaign to advance civic education

8/25/25

WZZM - Grand Rapids

FORD50 | Ford Presidential Foundation launches fundraising campaign for civic education programs

8/25/25

UpNorthLive - Traverse City

Gerald R. Ford foundation launching $12 million campaign to advance civic education

8/25/25

Grand Rapids Press - MLIve 

Ford Foundation launches $12M campaign to close political divide

8/25/25

Grand Rapids Press - MLive 

Ford50 Campaign announces national fundraising initiative for civic education programs (Photo Gallery)

8/25/25

WWMT - Kalamazoo

Gerald R. Ford foundation launching $12 million campaign to advance civic education

8/25/25

WWMT - Kalamazoo

Shot of the Day - #0142

8/25/25

Michigan’s Big Show with MPS - Statewide

Steve Ford, Son of President Gerald Ford, Hollywood Actor and Motivational Speaker

8/25/25

WJR-AM - Detroit

Mike Ford, Son of President Ford, Joins All Talk

8/25/25

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