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 - 9/3/25

Gerald R. Ford Foundation launches a Campaign for Civic Education

1290 WLBY (Lucy Ann Lance) - Ann Arbor - 9/2/25

Ford50 Campaign - Gleaves Whitney

Traverse City Record-Eagle - 8/30/25

Editorial: It’s about civility

WXYZ - 8/29/25

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

MLive - 8/29/25

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

WJIM (The Steve Gruber Show) - Lansing - 8/28/25

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

MSN - Nationwide - 8/27/25

Ford Foundation launches $12M campaign to close political divide

WGVU (Shelley Irwin) - Grand Rapids - 8/27/25

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

Gongwer - Capital Insider - 8/26/25

Ford Presidential Foundation launches new civic engagement initiative

MIRS - Capital Insider - 8/26/25

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

Detroit News - 8/26/25

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

Yahoo! News - National 

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

WGVU - 8/25/25

Ford Presidential Foundation announces $12 million expansion of education programs

Michigan Public - NPR - Statewide - 8/25/25

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

WOOD - Grand Rapids - 8/25/25

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

MidMichiganNow - Flint - 8/25/25

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

WZZM - Grand Rapids - 8/25/25

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

UpNorthLive - Traverse City - 8/25/25

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

Grand Rapids Press - MLIve - 8/25/25

Ford Foundation launches $12M campaign to close political divide

Grand Rapids Press - MLive - 8/25/25

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

WWMT - Kalamazoo - 8/25/25

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

WWMT - Kalamazoo - 8/25/25

Shot of the Day - #0142

Michigan’s Big Show with MPS - Statewide - 8/25/25

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

WJR-AM - Detroit - 8/25/25

Mike Ford, Son of President Ford, Joins All Talk