DEALERS’
DEDICATION TO COMMUNITIES, CAUSES EARNS FORD MOTOR COMPANY ‘SALUTE TO
DEALERS’ AWARD
Marie J.
Fritts of Fritts Ford earns Ford
Motor Company’s ‘Salute To Dealers’ award
RIVERSIDE, Calif., Jan. 31, 2007 – Marie
Fritts, owner of Fritts
Ford in Riverside, Calif., is a beloved member of her
community, with which she connects by donating her time, leadership
skills and money to support numerous organizations and causes, large
and small.
When her husband, Rick, died seven years
ago, Marie not only picked up the reigns of his dealership business
but carried on his tradition of community service as well. “Rick did
so much; he just cared so much,” Fritts said of her late husband.
“I had to keep his work alive.”
From anti-drug programs to animal rescue
to health care for the poor, Fritts helps wherever and whenever she
can, personally reading and responding to the numerous requests she
receives.
“It is important to give back to
the community that has supported our Ford
dealership,” she said.
For her outstanding corporate
citizenship, Ford Motor Company has named Fritts among the nine
recipients of its seventh annual Salute To Dealers
award.
Rick Fritts founded Riverside Against
Drugs (RAD) 20 years ago and helped support it with a fund-raiser at
his dealership each year. Marie has been able to double the amount of
money Fritts Ford has raised for the organization, which serves Alvord
and Riverside Unified
School Districts’ students in kindergarten through high
school. The funds support drug, alcohol, tobacco and violence
prevention and intervention programs as well as School Resource
Officers. The Riverside
City Council recently recognized RAD’S work and thanked
Fritts for her support.
“Mrs. Fritts is an exceptionally
generous and caring individual and I feel honored to be able to work
with her. She is the battery that keeps the machine going,”
said Deborah Myers Norys, Pupil Services, Riverside
Unified School District. “With budget cuts continuing to
happen every year, the support from Project RAD is more important now
than ever before.”
Fritts also reaches out to those less
fortunate. Her commitment to the new Arlanza Health
Care Center in Riverside
means thousands of underinsured and uninsured families and individuals
will receive quality vision care and glasses, regardless of their
ability to pay for it.
“Marie is very faithful to her
community,” said Dr. Dan Anderson, president and CEO of Riverside
Community Health Foundation, which established the new
clinic to offer medical, dental and vision services on a sliding-fee
scale. “She has been a great support to the foundation over the
years. Marie means a lot to us.”
Fritts also has a soft spot for animals.
Rick and Marie Fritts generously supported the Riverside
Humane Society Pet Adoption Center for more than a decade.
Today, Marie gives generously to the organization’s capital campaign
and provides major sponsorship of RHSPAC’s annual Raccoon Ball, Walk
with the Animals and Comedy Night fund raisers, which she also
attends. And Fritts Ford donates a Ford
truck to transport shelter animals to area veterinary
clinics.
“We deeply appreciate Marie Fritts’
thoughtful and longtime support of RHSPAC and its mission to find
loving homes for our resident animals,” said Cathy Walling, RHSPAC
executive director. “Her continuing generosity to so many needy
organizations throughout the community like ours is what makes her
truly a special individual.”
Fritts combines her support of local law
enforcement with her love of animals, helping to fund the acquisition
and training of several police
dogs for the Riverside Police and Riverside
County Sheriff’s Departments, which normally aren’t funded
by the local government
budget. K-9 unit officers regularly bring the dogs to Fritts’
office so she can visit and provide them with a treat.
Fritts also works with the Riverside Law
Enforcement Appreciation Committee, which holds an annual dinner to
recognize the Officer of the Year.
“I cannot underscore enough the
confidence and appreciation we have in Marie Fritts,” Riverside
Police Chief Russ Leach said. “As a friend to the department and as
a very involved citizen in this community, her name is well-known for
her actual involvement and commitment to community issues.”
Fritts gives countless hours of her time
doing what she can each month to give back to the Riverside community.
Each year, Fritts Ford adopts a local elementary school so Santa Claus
can provide a toy to every student and she supports the Riverside
Arts Council, YWCA and more.
“I have been very fortunate to have been
successful in business and it is a moral obligation to give to
those who are less fortunate,” Fritts said.
Salute To Dealers
was established in 2001 to demonstrate Ford Motor Company’s
commitment to its dealer principals who improve the lives of those in
need in their communities while providing outstanding products and
services. The program is conducted under the guidance of Edsel B. Ford
II, great-grandson of Henry
Ford and a member of Ford’s
Board of Directors.
“Marie’s involvement in and dedication
to her community underscores Ford’s commitment to making a
difference in the places where we work and live,” Edsel
Ford said. “She is inspiring.”
