• Ford Fund pledges $250,000 (US dollars) to the construction of a new Affirmations Homosexual Community Centre in Ferndale, Michigan.
• The organization plans to break ground on the estimated $5.3 million (USD) facility in the northern spring of this year. Spokespeople for Affirmations organization say the new centre will be open to the public in early 2006.

Whilst many folks work tireless to raise funds to support victims and reconstruction in tsunami devastated South East Asia, Ford Motor Company Fund, last week, pledged $US250,000 ($A326,179) to the Affirmations Homosexual Community Centre. The campaign will finance a new community centre in downtown Ferndale, Michigan.

Ford's grant is among the largest donations ever made from a Fortune 500 company to a homosexual organization. This donation represents another part of Ford Fund's tireless commitment to support organizations that improve opportunities for those who live in the communities where Ford Motor Company does business.

"Ford is proud to support Affirmations and its partners," said Ford Motor Company Fund President Sandra Ulsh. "The new centre will serve as a cornerstone for the homosexual, bisexual and transgender community in the state of Michigan. It will be a place to build and nurture a more inclusive and respectful society." The campaign's top gift of $500,000 came from Allan Gilmour, former vice chairman of Ford Motor Company, and Eric Jirgens head of Eric Charles Designs, of Birmingham, Michigan. As top donors they will also serve as co-chairs for the campaign.