Fifteen environmental initiatives will share a total of $100,000 this year as part of the 2008-2009 Ford Motor Company Conservation & Environmental Grants program. The nine members of the independent jury panel convened in Dubai recently to select and vote on the winners in this year's Ford's green initiative which marks its 10th consecutive year of continued support to non-profit and grass-root level projects in the GCC and Levant markets. The winning entries are from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan and are active in the areas of environmental education, conservation of the natural environment (flora and fauna) and conservation engineering with grants ranging between $2,000 and $14,000. “Once again, it gives us great pleasure to recognize the relentless efforts of the many individuals and groups who have devoted their time in preserving the environment and raising awareness in their local communities,” said Waldo Galan, Ford Middle East's managing director. “Extending support to help our local environmental enthusiasts carry on with their worthwhile projects is our way to recognize and celebrate their hard work and to help them fulfill their missions. “During the past 10 years, the Ford Grants have funded and helped materialize and expand over 100 projects, and it gives us immense pride when we realize the impact this program has had in the region's communities. We are thrilled to have had this opportunity to demonstrate yet again, Ford Motor Company's commitment to giving back to the local communities where we serve our customers,” Galan added. Since the program's launch 10 years ago, Ford has awarded more than $2,000,000 in grants to over 300 high-quality projects throughout Asia Pacific, Caribbean, Central America, Middle East and Puerto Rico to further their environmental initiatives. In the Middle East, the initiative has offered nearly $800,000 in grants to over 100 Middle Eastern environmental projects since 2000. The Ford Grants have also seen support from the World Wide Fund for Nature, the Emirates Wildlife Society and most recently, the Arab Forum for Environment & Development (AFED), a regional independent organization promoting prudent environmental policies and programs across the Arab region. An independent panel of nine jurors consisting of academicians, as well as experts from environmental ministries and agencies choose the winning projects that demonstrate a well-defined sense of purpose, a commitment to maximizing available resources, and a reputation for meeting objectives and delivering planned programs and services. Only ongoing and established non-profit projects are qualified to apply for the program. Some of the recipients of the Grants (GCC/Levant Chapter) are: 1. Have Fun with the Environment submitted by Ghadah Nasser Omar Al-Bakr of Riyadh in the Environmental Education category. Grant awarded: $14,000 2. GCC Network for the Conservation of Mangroves submitted by the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation & Development from Riyadh, in the Natural Environment category. Grant awarded: $6,000 3. Establishing Green Points in Kuwaiti Universities submitted by Greenline Kuwait (previous winner), in the Environmental Education category. Grant awarded: $6,000 4. Whale and Dolphin Research Program submitted by Environment Society of Oman (previous winner) in the Natural Environment category. Grant awarded: $6,000 5. Use of Microchip Technology to Conserve the Sooty Falcon in Oman submitted by Environment Society of Oman, in the Natural Environment category. Grant awarded: $3,500 6. Gray Water Treatment submitted by Bahrain's Ebrahim Hameed Ali Mohsen (previous winner), in the Conservation Engineering and Environmental Education category. Grant awarded: $6,000 7. Freshwater from air conditioning submitted by Dr. Benno Bernhard Boer, from Qatar, in Conservation Engineering category. Grant awarded: $2,000. __
