In recognition of his outstanding corporate citizenship and contributions to the community, Gus Machado has earned a Salute to Dealers award from Ford Motor Company. Machado, who owns Gus Machado Ford and Gus Machado Ford of Kendall, is one of six winners chosen for his dedication to local community, service and peers among more than 8,500 Ford and Lincoln dealers from U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Europe, Asia, Caribbean & Central America, Africa, and the Middle East.
Machado received the 12th annual tribute during a ceremony on Feb. 3 preceding the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Convention in Las Vegas.
The list of Machado’s community activities is extensive in scope, but his major focus has been on increasing health and education awareness in the Miami area. Machado created the Gus Machado Family Foundation with the purpose of contributing to local and national organizations that promote cancer research, healthy living and youth education. In doing so, Machado created a community action network throughout Miami.
Machado’s philanthropic successes stem from his passion to help his peers and tapping into personal family struggles with life threatening diseases. These personal experiences have led to Machado’s partnership with the American Cancer Society on several initiatives including the Miami-Dade County 24- Hour “Relevo Por La Vida,” also known as “The Relay for Life.” This American Cancer Society-sponsored event invites community members to participate in a celebration of those who have battled cancer, to remember loved ones lost to the disease and to fight for a cure.
Additionally, Machado established a Senior PGA Golf event and co-founded Calle Ocho, a Kiwanis event in Little Havana that celebrates the Paseo Carnaval. This event is a celebration of heritage and uniting communities, attracting local leaders who in turn share and show their support for communities. The dealer also hosts back-to-school community fairs, providing more than 400 children with backpacks full of school supplies, immunizations and child identification cards. His dealership participates in Ford’s Drive One 4 UR School program and has partnerships with The United Way, Susan G. Komen “Race for the Cure” and “Salute to Education.”
Gus Machado’s name is synonymous with Miami philanthropy as he devotes 25 percent of his personal time to charity. Over the past 25 years, he personally has raised more than $2.5 million, adding to his Cuban success story. Machado’s commitment to community has a tremendous impact on his family, community and the Ford Motor Company. As a result of his good work, Machado has become a local hero and has received national press for his events.
Salute to Dealers is conducted under the guidance of Edsel B. Ford II, a member of Ford’s Board of Directors. The program was launched in 2001 to demonstrate the company’s commitment to its thousands of dealer principals who step beyond their showroom doors to make a difference where they live and work.
Edsel B. Ford II and three other judges selected winners from a total global field of 100 nominees located throughout the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Europe, Mexico and Asia based, on community service activities, length of participation and personal motivation.
A painted portrait of each honoree has a montage of philanthropic and volunteer activities that led to the award. Duplicates of the portraits will join a Salute to Dealers display in the lobby of Ford’s World Headquarters in Dearborn, MI for year-round viewing.
