Borgman Ford Mazda

Thanks to all those who turned out Saturday night to support the Ford Focus Global Test Drive fundraiser for Koinonia. WZZM-13 turned up to cover the event. Here’s the video. Special thanks to Laura Dillivan and Dutch Henry for a great night!

Shine Your Light for Local Charity!

Ford’s Focus Global Test Drive Team, local finalist Laura Dillivan, and Borgman Ford Mazda have teamed up to shine a little light in Rwanda! Join us April 16 at 6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. for a free reception at our dealership and you’ll receive a limited quantity coupon for $500 off your next purchase or a $500 gas card with purchase of a new Ford vehicle.

The fundraiser is designed to raise awareness and money for the local Koinonia Foundation, which provides clean solar light in Rwanda through the innovative K-Light, manufactured by Grand Rapids-based PiSAT. The evening reception will feature cash food and beverages with all proceeds to benefit Koinonia.

Laura Dillivan, finalist of Ford’s Focus Global Test Drive initiative, will allow visitors to test-drive her 2012 Focus “Flora” between 6:30 and 8 p.m. for a donation of $25 to Koinonia. The K-Light — a handy, portable, solar/AC powered lantern ideal for emergency packs or camping, fishing and hunting fun in Michigan, will be on sale for a $30 donation to Koinonia $30 donation to Koinonia or with an accessory kit that includes an a/c adapter & cell charger for $45. A 12-volt auto adapter accessories kit will be available for $16.

Live entertainment in the form of West Michigan’s Dutch Henry will be on hand to ensure this is no ordinary reception. The band has gained a national reputation for playing ear-catching originals and dance-inducing covers! Please join us to help Koinonia keep shining the light for the people of Rwanda!

The event is sponsored by the Ford Motor Company’s Focus Global Test Drive social media initiative that is raising consciousness and funding for selected charities worldwide. The event motto is to “Start More Than a Car.”

Connect with the program:

Follow Laura on Twitter @LauraBell65 Follow the Focus Global Test Drive using #focusglobaldrive at Twitter or Visit and review feed roundup on  Facebook. Like Borgman Ford Mazda on Facebook.

Just for fun, check out this video of band Dutch Henry loading up a Fan all new 2012 Ford Focus Hatchback with their gear to their original song, All That Space.

Grand Rapids’ own Laura Dillivan selected for trip to Spain to “focus her drive.”

Laura Dillivan always wanted to be a race car driver. Little did she know that her do-gooding tweets and Facebook posts about local non-profits would put her in the driver’s seat of a 2012 Ford Focus on the INTA Aeronautics closed circuit test track in Madrid. Dillivan was one of 40 people selected worldwide in Ford’s innovative social media campaign, the Focus Global Test Drive, that launched in February. The campaign is turning heads in the digital marketing arena because it’s a win-win-win: Ford is donating $10,000 to local charities of participants’ choice; selected test-drivers are spreading the word after a full initiation into the features of the 2012 Focus; and selected test-drivers are raising awareness of their chosen charity through promotion of the event.

For Dillivan, a mother of 5, the campaign has been a blast. After Ford invited her to submit a video entry, which was one of 20 selected in North America, she set out for three days of intensive Ford Focus training in Madrid, Spain. Housed at the elegant PortoAmerica hotel that features 13 floors desired by innovative world-renowned architects, she admits the real excitement was to be found on the track.

“We did have a pro driver on our team for the time trials. It was fun,” she said.”

In addition to the time trials, Dillivan’s team learned how to “drive greener” to conserve fuel and the environment; run an obstacle course through giant beach balls; and compete for the “safest” fast driving time, among other trials. For Dillivan, the peppy performance of the 2012 Focus made it a champ.

“I love the way that it drives,” Dillivan said of the 6-week loaner she was given to “test” during March and part of April. “It has so much get up and go and it handles so well…it’s so sporty. It will be hard to part with her.”

Dillivan named her Focus “Flora” in honor of the goddess of Spring. She’ll be saying her goodbyes after the Koinonia fundraiser scheduled for April 16 at Borgman Ford Mazda, the proceeds of which benefit the local charity she selected.

“The campaign is to “start more than a car.” I’m happy we’re making a difference in the Grand Rapids community, and I hope everyone comes out to enjoy a great time on the 16th.”

Borgman Ford will be supplying the pace car at the 34th Annual Fifth Third River Bank Run slated for Saturday, May 14, starting and finishing in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. Featuring the largest 25K road race in the country, 10K Run, 5K Run, 5K Walk and Junior events (Wednesday, May 11; Rogers High School), the Fifth Third River Bank Run will play host to more than 22,000 participants during race week 2011. Race weekend opens with the expanded Sports & Fitness Expo on Friday, May 13 at DeVos Place, held in conjunction with event late registration/packet pick-up, pre-race pasta dinner, Gazelle Sports Fashion Show and panel discussion. 2011 brings changes to the start area, with expanded areas for each event.  Post-Race on Saturday, May 14, celebrate your finish at the Michelob Ultra Post-Race Party Village on Calder Plaza. Stay tuned for more news about Borgman contest and prize packages.

Pssst…We’ve heard a rumor that starting April 1st, Borgman Ford Mazda will be giving away a $53 gas card to a lucky winner each week who likes them on facebook!

Grand Rapids’ own Laura Dillivan was one of fifty “test drivers” selected worldwide to test drive the new Ford Focus for six weeks in its Global Focus campaign. As a winner, she’s been given $10,000 to donate to the local charity of her choice, a trip to Spain where she got to spend time behind the wheel of the 2012 Focus with GT2 Champion and Le Mans vet Justin Bell, and most recently, a 2012 Focus to power up her drive for charity. Laura chose Koinonia, a homegrown Grand Rapids aid project that supplies clean solar light to areas of Africa to reduce reliance on kerosene, improve health, and give communities the opportunity for literacy and entrepreneurship.  Watch this video of the delivery of her Focus loaner earlier this month, and stay tuned for more updates, including a special evening at Borgman Ford Mazda on April 16th.

When Fred Borgman opened the doors on his Ford dealership in 1960, a house cost $12,000, a Galaxy sold for $2006, and a $100 a week was a “real good living wage.” The internet was a military secret and the Ford Mustang was barely a concept car. Cars came with standard transmissions, heaters and radios, and ran on gasoline that cost 25 cents a gallon. Fifty years later, the founding Borgman stood in the gleaming showroom of Borgman Ford Mazda on 28th Street and Ivanrest, surrounded by what once seemed “sci-fi”: cars that talk, park, and sync with your computer. (more…)

If you missed our 50th Anniversary celebration last week, check out our photo gallery by clicking on the link below.

Here’s to 50 More!

Sandy Leblanc, Executive Director of the Grandville-Jenison Chamber of Commerce, helped three generations of Borgmans – Fred, John and Matt — usher in the next 50 years with a ribbon cutting ceremony. She noted that Borgman was a charter member of the Chamber, and that together they celebrated 50 years. In 2008, Borgman Ford Mazda was recognized as the Company of the Year. Scott Gibbons, commercial manager, was recognized as Chamber member of the Year for 2010.

Grandville Mayor James Buck feted the company for it’s involvement in the community and read a proclamation to celebrate the anniversary. He then regaled the crowd with fond memories of the many Fords in his life, especially the convertibles Borgman regularly lent him for parades. Eventually, he bought his own!

Thanks to all those who made our Anniversary week extra special, and to our loyal customers for being with us throughout generations!

(more…)

The Komen Grand Rapids Race for the Cure is quickly approaching, slated for Sat., Sept. 25 at the Rivertown Mall, 8:30 a.m. Now you can boost your donation to fight breast cancer by simply Finding Borgman on Facebook. For each visitor to our Facebook page between now and Monday, September 27th, we will donate $1 to the Komen Grand Rapids foundation to support Breast Cancer Awareness month in October. Tell your friends, because friends help friends fight breast cancer!  Click on the graphic below to get to our Facebook page, and when you’re there, be sure to click “Like” for your donation!

Other Ways to Help: Visit the local Grand Rapids Komen affiliate site to sign up for the 5k walk/run, and help the 180,000 women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year! (more…)