Thanksgiving this year brought more than just turkey and football; it also delivered a heartwarming opportunity to recognize four exceptional Ford employees who have gone above and beyond for their communities.

Right before the Detroit Lions kicked off their annual Thanksgiving Day game at Ford Field, these "super volunteers" took to the field, soaking in a moment of well-earned recognition. They were honored as standout members of the Ford Volunteer Corps, Ford’s global employee volunteerism program, and their support of our Ford Building Together partners — American Red Cross, Feeding America, Habitat for Humanity, and Team Rubicon.

Bringing them to the game was our way of saying thank you for their commitment and for consistently stepping up to support our communities all year round.

Here is a look at the incredible contributions of the individuals celebrated on Thanksgiving.

Edward (Ted) Fly

Building a house is more than raising walls. It’s building a strong foundation for the families who will call it home.

No one knows that better than Ted Fly, who spent decades giving back at Habitat for Humanity. Eventually, he became a Habitat for Humanity Detroit board member, coaching families through home ownership, helping them manage budgeting, and building the homes himself.

Ford has a longstanding partnership with Habitat, providing financial support to help scale its work of providing resilient and affordable homes for families, and by hosting donation drives at dealerships and sending volunteers to build homes from the ground up.

After 30 years at Ford, Ted retired this November and looks forward to being able to dedicate even more time to volunteering. Ted summed it up: "Volunteering offers a rare trifecta — you feel good about what you did, you’re physically tired, and you’re also emotionally fulfilled."

Heba Kedir

Volunteering turned familiar trails into a pathway for growth for Heba Kedir, the youngest “super volunteer” to be honored this year.

As an Ann Arbor native and student during COVID-19, Heba walked the trails of the University of Michigan's Nichols Arboretum. As a happy coincidence, her first project with the Ford Volunteer Corps led her back to the Arboretum to help maintain those very same trails.

That day gave Heba a firsthand understanding of the impact service can have, both in terms of learning new skills and seeing the real difference you can make in people’s lives. She has since dedicated many hours as a Ford Volunteer Corps member, building benches at ToolBank, traveling to the Habitat for Humanity’s Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project in Austin to help build homes, and more.

The best part for Heba has been discovering the power of shared purpose.

“I show up and find people from my team volunteering, and that has made it even more worth it. It’s created a bond that I’d never expected.”

Luree Brown

Mentorship came full circle for Luree Brown — from student to mentor, and from local roots to community action.

When Luree was growing up in Detroit, mentors from the Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP) visited their classroom. Those hours changed Luree’s life; now they pay them forward.

For Luree, an engineering degree holder, giving back is in their DNA. They now mentor through organizations like DAPCEP, Goodera virtual projects, and Pretty Brown Girl. Luree also donates meals through Catch a Ride and steps up wherever help is needed — including for the 6 a.m. phone bank shift at Gleaners, a Feeding America foodbank, on Double Your Donation Day.

"I feel like my life’s purpose is to change the world," Luree said.

Ryan Keith

For Ryan Keith, service did not end with the Army — it evolved into disaster relief.

When an ice storm devastated Alpena, Michigan, last spring, fallen trees isolated residents, leaving them without power for weeks since emergency crews couldn’t pass through the blocked roads.

Shortly after, Ryan Keith deployed to Alpena with Team Rubicon to help clear debris. Team Rubicon unites veterans and civilians alike — including Ford employees like Ryan — to deploy for disaster response efforts nationwide.

Ryan found Team Rubicon after a Veterans Day event and hasn’t looked back, completing Sawyer training and earning qualification as a heavy equipment operator to move logs with compact track loaders. In the same way his Army training taught him to take care of the soldiers alongside him, Ryan wants to do the same for his neighbors.

"No one should be alone when they’re in a disaster," he said.

For these four, gratitude means giving back to the neighborhoods that shaped them — a powerful reminder on Thanksgiving that service is a year-round practice.

If you’re a Ford employee who wants to learn more about getting involved with American Red Cross, Feeding America, Gleaners Community Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, Team Rubicon or other Ford Philanthropy partner organizations, please visit the Ford Volunteer Corps Hub.

Kait Leo is a member of the Ford Philanthropy Communications team.