Since 2011, Bill Colwell Ford has partnered with the Hudson Community School's Angel Tree Program. Each year they select Hudson families that are in need and partner with a local business to provide Christmas gifts they may not otherwise receive. Since Bill Colwell Ford started participating they have donated everything from clothing, boots, toys, a pots and pan set, and even a truck load of wood for a family's home. A big thank you to the Bill Colwell Ford employees for going above and beyond every year!
2014: Bill Colwell Ford joined forces with the Cedar Valley Beyond Pink TEAM to raise money for both breast cancer awareness and help those affected by the disease. The Colwell family purchased a TV and grill to raffle off with all proceeds going to the Beyond Pink TEAM. We were able to raise $855 that was presented at the annual banquet. We also purchased pink polo shirts for our staff to wear in October. These were purchased through the Ford Warriors in Pink program where we were able to raise another $439 that was donated to the Pink Fund to help those with breast cancer pay for non-medical bills during their difficult journey.
2015: Bill Colwell Ford teamed up with the Cedar Valley Beyond Pink TEAM to raise money for breast cancer awareness as well as to help those affected by the disease. Bill Colwell Ford held a Pink Silent Auction and raised $300 to be donated to the Beyond Pink Team. Thank you to everyone who visited the dealership to support our event!
2012: Bill Colwell Ford hosted Go Further With Ford Night where guests could prepare themselves for the upcoming holidays while raising money for Cedar Valley Hospice. For each registered guest in attendance, Ford donated $10 to Cedar Valley Hospice. While at the event, guests could enjoy a free meal, take their holiday family photo, and fill out a holiday wish list. There were also raffle tickets with the chance to win tickets to Oster Regent Theatre's presentation of White Christmas! Or a remote start from Bill Colwell Ford Service and parts.
2017: The following article was written by Melody Parker and originally ran in the Waterloo Courier on April 22nd, 2017:
"On a recent Friday morning, Bill Colwell took a morning away his busy Ford dealership in Hudson to lend some muscle to help Cedar Valley Hospice set up for their recent Emily West concert fundraiser.
"I get a lot of satisfaction from volunteering for this organization. They do such a great job. They're compassionate people, and they truly care about others, and the more I work with them, the more I realize that, and it's true in everything they do," says Colwell, a longtime Cedar Valley Hospice volunteer and member of the Volunteer Board.
Even something as seemingly simple as arranging chairs and decorations at the Hilton Garden Inn in Cedar Falls, is a boon for hospice.
CV Hospice Development Director Chris Olds says, "He is a true working volunteer and a joy. He knows the value our fundraising and our services and never hesitates to be hands-on and in the front lines working hard."
As a business professional, Colwell became familiar with the program years ago while sponsoring golf tournaments as fundraisers for area organizations. "We gave the money to charities, and hospice was one of the charities. I got to know the people there, and they sent out people to help us on golf tournament day."
It wasn't long before he was invited to volunteer with hospice - "and at some point, somehow ended up on the board of directors," he recalls.
He was further inspired by the compassion, care and kindness shown his family when hospice cared for his father, Bill Sr. "And they do this every day. It's pretty amazing, and this organization has meant a lot to me. They're a special organization."
Bill Colwell Ford is well-known in the Cedar Valley for the dealership's philanthropic support for such organizations as Hudson Athletic Booster Club, March of Dimes, Give 2 the Troops, Beyond Pink TEAM and the Northeast Iowa Food Bank, in addition to Cedar Valley Hospice.Colwell says his favorite hospice fundraiser is the early fall butterfly release. "People can purchase a butterfly to memorialize a loved one or to remember someone. It's a really neat event, releasing all those butterflies and to see how much it means to people. We've been doing that event for the last five years, and 1,200 to 1,400 people are there. You can see how meaningful it is to all those people," he explains.
As both a businessman and member of the community, Colwell recognizes the impact volunteering can have. "These organizations can't run without volunteers, without manpower. Whether it's an organization who provides care or a service, what they do is heavily reliant on volunteers. They need that support for all they do.
"And it's important to give back. It's nice to find something that isn't just the daily grind that helps out other people, that means something," he explains.
He encourages other Boomers to take the time to volunteer.
"Find out where you fit, what gifts you have, what you're interested in. The first step is making the decision to do it. Then figure out where. There are churches and volunteer organizations that can direct you to all kind of opportunities to get involved," Colwell adds.
2018: The Hudson chapter of the National Honor Society recently held a Mini Dance Marathon complete with food, games and of course, dancing. As part of their fundraising efforts, the students conducted a "Teacher Jean Day" where teachers paid a donation of $5 to wear jeans for the day. The students raised $240 and then Bill Colwell Ford agreed to match what was raised, for a total donation of $480. In total, the students raised $1,980, going above and beyond their original goal of $1,000! All proceeds will be donated to the University of Northern Iowa Dance Marathon fund, which will then be donated to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital and the Children's Miracle Network.
2009: Drive 4 UR School began in 2007 when Ford Motor Co. and local Ford dealers saw a growing need in schools. With school budgets growing tighter, schools often faced the difficult decision to cut extra circular activities. Ford and local dealers know how important these programs are to the growth and development of students and decided to give back. Hence, the Drive 4 UR School program launched. The program encourages communities to gather during the event and test drive a vehicle out of the Ford line-up. For each test drive, Ford Motor Co. donates $20, up to $6,000, to support extra circulars.
Bill Colwell Ford got on board in 2009 making it the first annual Drive 4 UR School event with the proceeds going to the Hudson Athletic Boosters. With help from the Hudson community, we were able to raise $6,000 in our first year! Thank you for all who supported this event!
2010: This year marks the second annual Drive 4 UR School event hosted by Bill Colwell Ford and the Hudson Athletic Boosters. With the help of the Hudson community, this daylong event raised $6,000 for the organization.
2011: With help from the Hudson community, Bill Colwell Ford was able to raise $6,000 plus $2,000 from a bonus drive for the Third Annual Drive 4 UR School event. Thank you to the members of the community who helped to make this event a success.
2012: Thank you to the Hudson community who helped to make this year's event another successful one. Bill Colwell Ford was able to raise $6,000 plus $2,000 from a bonus drive for the Fourth Annual Drive 4 UR School event.
2013: Another successful Drive 4 UR School was hosted! This marks Bill Colwell Ford's fifth event where $5,320 was raised. It was a very warm September day, but the Hudson community was great. Pictured are members of the Hudson High School cheerleading squad helping register our drivers. We also see a member of our Hudson Athletic Boosters explaining the rules. Thanks for your support!
2014: Bill Colwell Ford has hosted this event every year since 2009 in order to raise money for Hudson Community Schools. This year marked the sixth year and we were able to raise $5,900. The day may have been cold and rainy, but the Hudson community, friends, and family truly made this event a success.
2015: This marked the 7th year Bill Colwell Ford hosted the Drive 4 UR School event. It may have been a windy day, but the community prevailed and we were able to raise $6,000 for the Hudson Athletic Booster Club. So far, Bill Colwell Ford has raised over $45,220 for the organization. The Hudson Athletic Booster Club is committed to supporting the uniform replacement for the student athletes. In addition, the Booster Club supports equipment and facility upgrades as deemed necessary by the Board or as requested by the coaching staff.
2016: Bill Colwell Ford presents $6,000 to the Hudson Athletic Booster Club for the 8th Annual Drive 4 UR School fundraiser held back in September. To date, Bill Colwell Ford has helped raise over $51,000 for the organization. A big thanks to everyone in the Hudson Community for coming out and supporting this event year after year!
2017: The 9th Annual Drive for UR School was held September of 2017 and it was an absolutely gorgeous day. With the help of the Hudson Community we were able to raise another $6,000 for the Hudson Athletic Booster Club. To date, Bill Colwell Ford has helped raise over $57,000 for the organization! Thank you to everyone in the Hudson community for coming out and supporting this event year after year!
2018: The 10th Annual Drive 4 UR School event was held September of 2018. With the help of the Hudson Community we were able to raise another $6,000 for the Hudson Athletic Booster Club. To date, Bill Colwell Ford has raised over $63,000 for the organization! A big thanks to everyone in the Hudson Community for coming out and supporting this event year after year!
2019: This year marked the 11th Annual Drive 4 UR School event and we were able to raise $5,360. The day may have been cold and rainy, but the Hudson community, friends, and family truly made this event a success. To date, Bill Colwell Ford has raised over $68,000 for the organization! A big thanks to everyone in the Hudson Community for coming out and supporting this event year after year!
July 2013: During the month of July, Bill Colwell Ford asked the local community and our loyal customers to give to our troops! In our Fill a '50 campaign we asked for items such as prepackaged snacks, board games, and candies that we then shipped to Give 2 The Troops. Give 2 The Troops is a non-profit organization that collects these items and then creates care packages to send to our soldiers overseas. We were able to gather 581 items, totaling over 258 pounds! Pictured here all of the items we were able to gather and our intern, Whitney, who helped oversee the campaign.
April 2016: During the month of April, Bill Colwell Ford asked the local community and our loyal customers to give back to the Northeast Iowa Food Bank. In our Fill a '50 campaign we asked for non-perishable items such as canned and boxed goods, soap, toilet paper, toothbrushes, and toothpaste. We were able to surpass our goal of 300 items by collecting a total of 548 items to be donated.
April 2017: In celebration of the Ford F-Series being America's best-selling truck for 40 years, during April, Bill Colwell Ford hosted the Fill a 50 event and asked the local community members to donate items to the Cedar Bend Humane Society. A lot of items were donated and they filled the back of an F-150 with bags of cat and dog food, tons of treats, and event some office supplies for the volunteers and workers. Thank you to everyone who participated!
April 2018: In celebration of the Ford F-Series being America's best-selling truck for 41 years, during April, Bill Colwell Ford hosted the Fill a 50 event and asked the local community members to donate items to the House of Hope in Waterloo. The House of Hope is a two-year transitional housing program for single mothers and their children. A lot of items were donated and they definitely surpassed their goal of 300 items. Once again, thank you to everyone who participated, your generosity is astounding!
April 2019: In celebration of the Ford F-Series being America's best-selling truck for 42 years, Bill Colwell Ford hosted the Fill a 50 event. During the month of April, they collected items for the Friends of the Family. The organization provides advocacy services for victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault, human trafficking and homelessness. Some of the items they collected included garbage bags, toilet paper, cleaning products, laundry soap and much more. A big THANK YOU to everyone who came out and donated to the Fill a 50 event this year. A lot of items were raised for the Friends of the Family and it wouldn't have been possible without your help!
September 2020: In response to the derecho that caused extensive damage across Iowa in August 2020, Bill Colwell Ford hosted the Fill a 50 event. During the month of September, they collected items on behalf of Iowa Storm help to distribute to people who need assistance during storm recovery efforts. Iowa Storm Help is a grassroots community group dedicated to helping those affected by the recent Iowa derecho storm by cleaning up trees and debris for people, providing food and household supplies, and delivering meals. Some of the items they collected included canned fruits and vegetables, juice bottles, paper towels, bleach, and many more shelf-stable foods and cleaning products. Thank you to everyone who donated to help provide timely response for fellow Iowans!
April 2021: To honor and support local military veterans, Bill Colwell Ford hosted the Fill a 50 event. During the month of April, they collected items on behalf of the Black Hawk County Veteran Affairs to distribute to veterans through their food pantry The Black Hawk County Veteran Affairs assist honorably discharged veterans and dependents by ensuring that their needs are being met through federal, state, and county benefits. Some of the items they collected included canned fruits and vegetables, juice bottles, paper towels, detergent, warm hats and gloves, and many more shelf-stable foods and cleaning products. A big THANK YOU to everyone who came out and donated to the Fill a 50 event this year. A lot of items were raised for veterans and their families in Black Hawk County, and it wouldn't have been possible without your help!
April 2022: To help support local foster care families in advance of National Foster Care month, Bill Colwell Ford hosted the Fill a 50 event. During the month of April, they collected items on behalf of Cedar Valley Angels so they can help support families as they welcome new people into their homes on short notice. Some of the items they collected included toys, books, paper towels, laundry detergent, personal care products, and many more shelf-stable foods and cleaning products. These products will go a long way to helping foster families successfully transition children into their homes, and it was only possible with your donations. Thank you!
2013: During the month of March, Bill Colwell Ford raised money for the March of Dimes Foundation. For each person that came in and test drove a Ford Fusion, the Colwell family donated $10 to the cause. We also held a bake sale for a week where our employees and service customers enjoyed delicious treats for a free will donation. Then on April 27th, our team walked in the 4.5 miles March for Babies held at Gateway Park in Cedar Falls.
In 2014 the Hudson Pirates Football Field was in need of a new scoreboard and Bill Colwell Ford wanted to help out. A $5,000 donation was given from Bill Colwell Ford and a new scoreboard was purchased.
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Bill Colwell Ford
238 Waterloo Road
Hudson, IA 50643
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