• Ford kicks off next phase of its #FinishStrong initiative during Super Bowl LV this Sunday and throughout February to encourage Americans to pull together to protect themselves and each other. The Super Bowl LV message is expected to reach about 325 million people in some of the hardest-hit COVID-19 regions
• Leveraging data from University of Washington Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Ford will deliver its #FinishStrong message in major markets across California, Texas, Florida, Michigan and Missouri. Ford will donate 120 million masks in communities in need across the country, including 25 million over the next five weeks
• Ford has received patent-pending approval for an innovative new clear respirator that Ford expects to certify to N95 standards of virus elimination that allows for better expression and communication, which can also benefit hearing-impaired people who read lips; plus Ford is sharing an inexpensive open-source design for a fan and HVAC filter combination that could help reduce virus particle concentrations in enclosed spaces 

DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 2, 2021 – Ford is stepping up its drive to encourage Americans to #FinishStrong in the battle against COVID-19 with the announcement of three new initiatives that include special Super Bowl LV advertising, new mask donations and new solutions to help protect people against the virus.

First up, the battle continues this Sunday, during Super Bowl LV, where Ford will exhort Americans to come together, protect each other and fight COVID-19 in regions hit hardest by the virus while also planning to distribute more than 25 million free medical-grade masks over the next five weeks alone. The Super Bowl LV message is expected to reach about 325 million people in some of the hardest-hit COVID-19 regions.

Ford also increased its mask-donation commitment to 120 million masks, up from 100 million, for communities and organizations with limited access to personal protective equipment.

“The data shows that we can save a lot of lives in the coming months by coming together as Americans and protecting each other. Our mission is to inspire people to stay safe.  There is no bigger platform to do so than Super Bowl LV,” said Kumar Galhotra, president, Americas & International Markets Group. “Together with the Ford Motor Company Fund, we’re also giving out more than 25 million medical-grade masks in some of the hardest hit areas to make it easier for people to help protect each other.”

Ford also designed two new innovative anti-virus protective countermeasures – a patent-pending clear respirator that could benefit those with hearing impairments, and instructions for an open-source fan and HVAC filter design that can help reduce virus particle concentrations in spaces such as classrooms.

Regional Super Bowl LV advertising

Southern California, Texas, Florida and Kansas City are some of the hardest-hit COVID-19 areas in the U.S., based on data and analysis from University of Washington Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation. Ford is also running the #FinishStrong ad during Super Bowl LV in Michigan where the company has a high concentration of employees, many of which cannot work from home.

Super Bowl LV viewers will be able to see Ford’s #FinishStrong film – a 30-second spot and a new 60-second spot — before or during the big game in those places. The campaign will continue across digital and social media channels, delivering an impactful suite of messaging for this important initiative.

The cornerstone of Ford’s public call to action is a messaging campaign – #FinishStrong – created by acclaimed filmmaker Peter Berg, known for such movies as “Friday Night Lights,” “Patriots Day” and “Lone Survivor.” The 30- and 60-second spots are narrated by award-winning actor Bryan Cranston. Along with Film Forties, the campaign is co-produced by Civic Entertainment Group.

Ford will continue to run the #FinishStrong messaging campaign in these hot spot regions through February. It is also planning Ford mask distribution days at nonprofits and local Ford dealerships in communities across the U.S. as part of a concentrated effort beginning Feb. 18. For a list of upcoming distribution locations, click here.

In addition to picking up masks at Ford dealers in Dallas, people can also get masks later this month at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys. The date will be announced soon. People will be able to drive right up and receive up to 20 masks for free.

If more Americans embraced COVID mitigation protocols, such as wearing masks, 50,000 or more lives could be saved between now and the end of June when vaccines are more readily available, according to officials at Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington School of Medicine.

“With the spread of new and more contagious variants of COVID-19, mask-wearing will be crucial to reduce transmission and save lives,” said Dr. Christopher Murray, director, Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation. “As we await a strong vaccine rollout, something we can all do to protect each other is wear masks and stay socially distanced.”

Clear N95 respirators

Ford has received patent-pending approval for an innovative new clear respirator that Ford expects to certify to N95 standards of virus elimination.

The transparent, low-cost, reusable respirators enable a full range of human expression, allowing people to better communicate with each other and aiding those with hearing impairments to help read lips that are today blocked by conventional cloth and filtered masks. This is also a safe solution where visible human expression is desired, such as teaching, air travel and sales.

“One of the things that’s missing during the pandemic is the power of a smile,” said Jim Baumbick, Ford vice president, Enterprise Product Line Management and leader of Ford’s Project Apollo PPE manufacturing effort. “This clear respirator promises to improve interactions between neighbors, at the store and for those who have hearing impairments.”

Testing on the respirators to prove their effectiveness continues this winter, with expected availability sometime this spring.

COVID-19 air filtration box fan kits

Ford has developed an air filtration kit that people can make at home or in school. The air filtration kit supplements a room’s existing filtration system to further help reduce the risk of COVID-19 virus particle concentrations. The kits are based upon scientific studies from academic and government research.

The company plans to donate up to 20,000 air filtration kits to underserved communities in partnership with the Ford Motor Company Fund. More details will be shared by March.

The filtration kit is comprised of an easy-to-assemble die-cut cardboard base, a 20-inch box fan, and a 20x20x4 air filter with a standard minimum efficiency reporting value of 13. The air filter is placed inside the folded base with the fan placed on top. The fan operates on high for maximum filtration, discharging clean air downward as it pulls in unfiltered air from above.

Because COVID-19 can spread through droplets when infected persons exhale, cough, sneeze or talk, Ford conducted smoke particulate testing of the air filter at an independent test lab using the industry standard AHAM AC-1 test. These tests show that the unit provides a clean air discharge rate of 213 cubic feet per minute. 

Ford and the University of Minnesota conducted aerosol modeling studies in a classroom-sized space that show increasing air filtration in closed spaces helps reduce particulate concentration, which includes aerosols and droplets.

“Our modeling results clearly show that improvements in air filtration of poorly ventilated spaces through the proper use of a portable air cleaner can help reduce the chance of breathing in contaminated aerosols,” said Dr. Jiarong Hong, mechanical engineering professor in the University of Minnesota’s college of science and engineering.

The impact of the portable air cleaner unit depends on where it’s placed and the size of the room. Ford studies show that with a room size of approximately 960 square feet, similar to an average size classroom, adding two portable air cleaner units can triple the air changes per hour compared to what a building HVAC system alone would clean, refreshing the air 4.5 times per hour.

Ford is also making the base design available free by downloading this instruction template. Ford does not provide the fan or filter. An empty home delivery box can serve as the base.

Mask donations

Ford, in partnership with the UAW and its philanthropic arm, the Ford Motor Company Fund, previously made a commitment to produce and donate 100 million U.S.-made medical-grade face masks to at-risk communities across the country. With the acquisition of another 20 million masks, Ford and Ford Fund, have now increased their promise to 120 million donated masks by mid-2021.

“Ford Fund would like to thank our nonprofit partners and Ford dealers throughout the U.S. who have been instrumental in ensuring masks are getting to people and communities who need them most,” said Mary Culler, president, Ford Motor Company Fund. 

Since August, more than 66 million masks have been distributed to nonprofit organizations, state and local officials, first responders, schools, community groups and Ford dealerships in all 50 states.