Since its creation, the foundation has distributed over $250,000 in programs and services.

By the end of 2010, the Foundation will have honoured 112 artists and distributed $3.65 million to the arts.

The foundation distributes medicines to children for the treatment of various diseases.

The foundation, among the country's largest, has distributed $127 million in the last two years in grants to higher education.

The foundation currently distributes several hundred grants each year, ranging from $5,000 to $275,000.

At the end of the year, the foundation will distribute any operating surpluses to local charities.

The foundation distributed $170 million last year, Ms. Clark said.

By law, foundations must distribute at least 5 percent of their assets each year, and Ford, like most, has stayed close to that minimum.

The foundation distributes five percent of the market value of each fund on an annual basis.

So far, the foundation have distributed kits of 50,000 people throughout New England.