October 25, 2023; San Juan, Puerto Rico – Ford Puerto Rico is distributing $46,000 among the four projects that won the 2023 Ford Environmental Grants program, whose objective is to continue promoting sustainability and accelerating the conservation of natural resources on the Island through community initiatives that positively impact the environment and also contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals identified by the UN to improve the lives of everyone in the world.
In its 23rd edition, Ford Environmental Grants awarded three projects in the Conservation and Recovery of Biodiversity category: Centro Comunitario para la Conservación Costera y la Educación Ambiental, submitted by Coco Puerto Rico; De la Playa al Laboratorio, taller de calidad de agua, presented by Arrecifes Pro-Ciudad, Inc.; and El mar comienza en las montañas, of Grupo Tortuguero de San Juan. The fourth winning initiative was Brindando agua limpia al centro de Puerto Rico, presented by Remora in the Food Security category.
“We are very pleased to continue supporting projects like the four that won this year, which in addition to working for the environment, contribute to the economic and social development of their communities. We congratulate these initiatives and all the organizations that continue to make a difference with their commitment and effort to contribute to a better planet,” said Vivian T. Dávila, manager of public affairs and communications for Ford Puerto Rico, Central America and the Caribbean, who indicated that the grants distributed this year adds to the more than $1.9 million that the company has contributed to hundreds of environmental initiatives in this region during the more than two decades in which the program has been carried out.
“With the Ford Environmental Grants program, each year we reaffirm our commitment to sustainability, by encouraging the multiplication of collective efforts that serve as catalysts for change to contribute to the preservation of natural resources,” she added.
The jury that rigorously evaluated the proposals and selected the winning projects based on their contribution to sustainable development, community impact, multi-sector alliances and multiplier effect was composed of the following experts in environmental issues: Dr. Jorge Bauzá-Ortega, scientific director of the San Juan Bay Estuary Program; Dr. Yogani Govender, project director of the Eco-Eagle program of the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, Metro campus; Glorimar Toledo, coordinator of Conservation/Biodiversity Projects at Para la Naturaleza; Perla Sofía Curbelo, founder and director of Agrochic; Dr. Adrienne G. Tossas Cavalliery, president of Birds Caribbean and professor of the Department of Natural Sciences of the University of Puerto Rico, Aguadilla campus.
Over the years, the Ford Environmental Grants Program has supported environmental projects that have contributed to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as they are related to the conservation and recovery of biodiversity, environmental education, waste management, energy efficiency, renewable energies, and food security.
According to the impact report carried out by Sinergia507, a consulting firm specialized in sustainability and social responsibility, the winning projects of 2021 Ford Environmental Grants benefited the quality of life of 10,622 people on the Island and had a greater impact on the following UN Sustainable Development Goals: End hunger; Ensure healthy living and promote well-being for all at all ages; Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns; Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts; Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.
The call for the next edition of the Ford Environmental Grants program will begin in April 2024. More information about the program is available at DonativosAmbientalesFord.com. 
