Press Release
July 23, 2020
The Henry Ford Announces Reactivate Support Campaign
Institution needs help to build business back from COVID-19
(Dearborn, Mich. – July 22, 2020) ─ For more than 90 years, The Henry Ford has inspired generations through lessons of innovation, ingenuity and resourcefulness to activate their potential to help shape a better future. The institution now faces unprecedented financial challenges because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To secure its future impact, the organization launched Reactivate The Henry Ford Fund to address the projected $10 million to $20 million budget deficit from its nearly 16-week closure.
“While we have not had a deficit in decades, we are projecting a crippling shortfall that will impact our ability to operate at the levels our guests have known and loved,” said Patricia Mooradian, president and CEO, The Henry Ford. “We are looking to our community, those that have made this institution a part of their lives for years, to help us rebound. We are asking people to visit, purchase a membership or make a donation to Reactivate The Henry Ford Fund.”
The Henry Ford, the largest cultural destination in southeastern Michigan, is unlike any other cultural institution across the nation. Its 250-acre campus requires a large labor force to maintain its 90 historic structures, a high school and five unique venues. In April, the organization made the painful decision to furlough more than 80 percent of its workforce — 1,400 people — while continuing to provide their health benefits. Staff working remotely took pay reductions of 10 to 25 percent.
Sixty-five percent of The Henry Ford’s operating budget is earned revenue — admission tickets, memberships, signature and private events, food and retail purchases — nearly all of which was eliminated with the institution’s forced closure on March 13. The funds generated from Reactivate will assist the destination in continuing the programs and initiatives that require specialized knowledge, including the operation of historic rides and machinery, stewarding and maintaining 26 million artifacts, and providing expertise to guests, stakeholders and viewers of its weekly national television series.
A longtime supporter of The Henry Ford will match donations, dollar for dollar, so contribution will have double the impact.
The Henry Ford, reopening to the general public beginning July 9, is not owned by Ford Motor Company, does not receive public funding from a millage and The Henry Ford, reopening to the general public beginning July 9, is not owned by Ford Motor Company, does not receive public funding from a millage and does not qualify for any direct CARES Act funding or governmental relief.
In order to safely reopen, the organization had to invest significant resources to meet Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and state standards to ensure the health and well-being of its guests, staff, students and volunteers.
For more information about the reopening schedule, ticket and reservation information, and safety guidelines, visit thf.org/welcomeback. To donate, visit thf.org/donate.
About The Henry Ford
Located in Dearborn, Michigan, The Henry Ford, a globally recognized destination, fosters inspiration and learning from hands-on encounters with artifacts that represent the most comprehensive collection anywhere focusing on innovation, ingenuity and resourcefulness in America. Its unique venues include Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Greenfield Village, Ford Rouge Factory Tour, Benson Ford Research Center and Henry Ford Academy, a public charter high school. Together with its online presence at thf.org, its national television series The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation and Invention Convention Worldwide, the growing affiliation of organizations fostering innovation, invention and entrepreneurship in K-12 students, The Henry Ford inspires individuals to unlock their potential and help shape a better future.
Melissa Foster, Sr. Manager, Public Relations
melissaf@thehenryford.org, 313-982-6126
