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“Team, you continue to demonstrate a collective commitment to the community through our strong partnership with United Way, just as you continue to display unmatched levels of hard work and professionalism on this new engine program and everything else we do on this site.”

Photo by Nick Brancaccio / Windsor Star

The donation brings the total raised for the United Way’s $5.4-million campaign to just over $4.4 million with several months to go. Automaker FCA and its employees have pledged more than double that, at $1.25 million. But on a per-worker basis the Ford team — comprised of the company, managers, 1,700 Unifor Local 200 members, Unifor Local 240 members and workers with Voith Industrial Services and Penske Logistics — consistently has the highest per-capita giving in the region, United Way CEO Lorraine Goddard said.

United Way helps more than 53,000 people, thanks to the generosity of donors like Ford and Unifor members, she said.

“It is truly in your heart.”

The new engine is part of a $613-million investment commitment made by Ford during 2016 contract negotiations with Unifor. One year ago, the Ford United Way announcement was made in the Annex building that was basically an empty shell. Today it’s a high-tech wonder with gleaming production lines.

Photo by Nick Brancaccio / Windsor Star

Savoni told reporters Ford expects a summer launch of the engine, which will go into 2020 model vehicles. Though the engines were on full display, he declined to provide any specifics on their features or how many engines will be produced. Employment numbers are still undetermined, he said.