A team of 13 employees from Ford Ireland spent last Friday volunteering at the Training Centre of the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind on Model Farm Road in Cork.
They began their day with a briefing by the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind corporate team on the work and history of the charity. This was followed by an opportunity to visit the kennels and to meet some of the dogs in training and their very experienced human trainers. The Ford team then rolled up their sleeves and got stuck into a range of activities including painting, tidying the garden and generally helping with the maintenance of the facilities.
John Manning, Market Lead with Ford in Ireland, noted that over the years, the company has had a strong relationship with the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. "This is the first time for our team to actually volunteer and they have really enjoyed the opportunity to visit, learn about and contribute in some small way to the great work of the charity," he said. "It is amazing to see the amount of work and dedication that goes into training the dogs, such hugely valuable work when you see the great benefits that Guide and Assistance Dogs provide to those who are vision impaired and the families of children with autism across the island of Ireland."
Tim O’Mahony, CEO of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, welcomed the team and helped them them to get better acquainted with the work of the organisation. "We really appreciate and depend on the support that companies like Henry Ford & Son Ltd provide to us and we look forward to many more years of partnership with the Ford team."
