Ford Friendship Express, a philanthropic initiative of the Ford Dealers of Western New York, today awarded new Ford vans to three Buffalo-area nonprofit organizations - with a little help from Santa Claus. Santa delivered a sack full of goodies to Jericho Road Ministries, Bertrand Chaffee Hospital, and the Boys & Girls Club of Orchard Park.

The donations mark the 13 th anniversary of the Ford Friendship Express program in Buffalo. Keys to the vans were presented by Chuck Basil, chairman, Western New York Ford Dealers, Scott Bieler, chairman, Ford Friendship Express Selection Committee, and Carl Emerling, Ford Friendship Express Selection Committee.

"Jericho Road Ministries, Bertrand Chaffee Hospital, and the Boys and Girls Club of Orchard Park are three very deserving nonprofit organizations who have demonstrated a strong need for transportation," said Bieler. "We enjoy giving back to the community we live in. There's nothing like driving down the street and seeing a Ford Friendship Express van full of deserving people. It's our privilege to help charitable organizations serve them better."

In addition to donating the vans, the Ford Dealers enlisted the help of Santa Clause to extend the cause for celebration. Santa, on summer vacation in Buffalo, had a wonderful time visiting the Springville, Orchard Park, and Buffalo organizations. He typically visits just once a year. He enjoyed meeting the great staff, volunteers and clients of the three charities. He will begin travelling back to the North Pole early July.

"We were just happy to get Santa back in Western New York this year," said Bieler about the Western New York Ford Dealers' connections with Santa Claus. "I can only imagine how busy he must be, preparing for the holidays. We were so happy that he would make a special trip to Western New York."

About the Recipients:

Jericho Road Ministries, an organization that seeks to empower individuals and families during difficult health and family situations, will use its new eight-passenger Ford Club Wagon for transporting clients who lack transportation to and from educational programs, medical appointments and mentoring. In some cases, the van will be used to provide domestic abuse intervention and help for refugees.

Bertrand Chaffee Hospital is an acute care hospital serving a rural population of more than 55,000 people living in Springville, NY. The organization also partners with the Southtowns Meals on Wheels program; they'll use the new Ford cargo van for transporting nutritious meals to those in need in the surrounding area.

Boys and Girls Club of Orchard Park currently has one van that staff use for their transportation needs, but due to high mileage and physical "wear and tear" they needed a replacement vehicle in order to provide safe and reliable transportation. The club will use the van to increase program participation and visibility by transporting more kids to off-site programs.

About Ford Friendship Express:

Since its inception in 1996, the Ford Friendship Express program has donated vans to 53 organizations, valued at more than $1 million. Past recipients include Kids Escaping Drugs, SABAH, Meals on Wheels of Buffalo and Erie County, Friends of the Night People, St. Luke's Mission of Mercy, Camp Good Days & Special Times, Student Union at SUNY at Buffalo, Goodwill Industries of Western New York, Rural Transit Service, the American Red Cross, The Buffalo Zoo and more.

Eligible candidates must be not-for-profit organizations located and operating in the area coinciding with the Western New York Ford Dealers. Application information for next year's program will be available in the fall on www.wnyford.com or can be requested by writing to Ford Friendship Express Program, 50 Fountain Plaza, Suite 1000, Buffalo, NY, 14202.

The dealers are part of the Western New York Ford Stores, an advertising cooperative comprised of 36 dealer locations which provides support for Ford vehicle sales and service in the 13 counties of Western New York and two counties in Northern Pennsylvania.