DETROIT – The Parade Company and Ford Motor Company unveiled a scenic new float, “Powering the Community,” today at The Parade Company Studio as a massive caravan of floats began to make their way downtown. The outdoor reveal was attended by Mary Culler, President of Ford Motor Company Fund, Tony Michaels, President & CEO of The Parade Company, Ford team members and the community. The new float designed and built by Parade Company artists will debut in America’s Thanksgiving Parade® presented by Gardner White.

“Ford Motor Company is an amazing community partner from every aspect imaginable, and a remarkable supporter of The Parade Company and America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented by Gardner White,” said Michaels. “We worked with Ford on the design and our amazing artisans brought it to life to capture Ford’s powerful community impact and innovation – from Michigan Central to the F-150 Lightning. It is a thrill and honor to unveil this new float with Ford today.”  

“Building and supporting community here in our hometown has always been a top priority for Ford and we are proud to partner with The Parade Company on important Detroit traditions like America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,” said Culler. “We are particularly excited to be debuting an all-new float this year. The float showcases Ford’s commitment to “Powering the Community” – not only with our exciting new products, of course, but in the many ways we are driving impact and investing in communities here in Detroit.” 

Designed and built by Parade Company artists, Ford’s “Powering the Community” float is over 100 feet long. The first section features an illuminated replica of the iconic, reimagined train station – the centerpiece of Michigan Central, the 30-acre hub nestled between Detroit’s Corktown and Southwest neighborhoods that Ford is helping reinvent alongside a dedicated Michigan Central team and a diverse array of partners like Google, the State of Michigan and the City of Detroit, to advance new technologies and skills programs that help usher in a more accessible, sustainable future for all.

The middle section demonstrates how Ford, and its partners, plan to activate spaces for the community in and around Michigan Central.

The third section – and focal point of the float – showcases the important role Ford’s community centers play in providing access to food and other essential resources for local neighborhoods in Detroit. With locations on the city’s East side and in Southwest Detroit, Ford Resource and Engagement Centers provide job training and placement services, tax and legal services, food distribution, youth programming and more.  

The float’s community center is receiving power from a Ford F-150 Lightning that tips up to 24 feet off the ground and has boxes of food being distributed out of its frunk (front trunk). The moving lights along the float’s bridge represent the flow of electricity and power source the F-150 Lightning can provide. The people carrying boxes throughout the float represent the thousands of Ford employees that help distribute food and volunteer in communities in the city and across Metro Detroit each year.

Themed “Our Great City! Detroit!” America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented by Gardner White is featured annually on WDIV Local 4, including a one-hour syndicated national broadcast reaching more than 185 television markets across the country. 760 WJR’s Paul W. Smith and Audacy WOMC 104.3 also broadcast parade shows.

Voted as America’s Number One Holiday Parade by the 2018 and 2019 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, America’s Thanksgiving Parade® presented by Gardner White takes place on Thursday, November 24. WDIV-Local 4’s live coverage begins at 6 a.m. with pre-parade coverage, followed by a parade pre-show beginning at 9 a.m. America’s Thanksgiving Parade® presented by Gardner White will air live on WDIV-Local 4 from 10 a.m. – noon.

Earlier this year, Ford announced the extension of their commitment of world-class Parade Company events through 2024. Ford serves as the title and key sponsor of traditions including the Ford Fireworks and The Parade Company Rooftop Fundraiser presented by Ford, America’s Thanksgiving Parade® presented by Gardner White and Hob Nobble Gobble presented by Ford.  

For more information, visit theparade.org.

About The Parade Company

Founded in 1984, The Parade Company is a not-for-profit organization governed by the Michigan Thanksgiving Parade Foundation whose board of directors is comprised of key civic and corporate leaders in the greater Detroit region. The Parade Company is celebrating 96 years of Parade tradition in Detroit and is committed to funding, creating and executing the best family events in Michigan. The Parade Company staff, board of directors and thousands of parade volunteers work year-round to bring a wide variety of magnificent events to the City of Detroit and the region including the Ford Fireworks, Strategic Staffing Solutions Turkey Trot, and America's Thanksgiving Parade^® presented by Gardner White. Follow The Parade Company on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.