Buss Ford in the McHenry, IL, Community & Beyond

Community Impact at a Glance

Over the course of four generations, the Buss family and Buss Ford have built a legacy of community-minded service in the McHenry area. Under the leadership of founder Ed Buss Sr. to our current leader, Drew Buss, the Buss Ford story is one of civic service, community-building impact, and a genuine dedication to the flourishing of our neighbors. Our story isn’t just about our family. It’s about all of us in the Chain O’ Lakes region. We’re thankful for the trust you’ve placed in us as your local Ford dealership throughout the decades, and our goal is to continually reinvest our time, energy, and resources as your long-term community partner.

Our community involvement covers a wide range of categories, including:

• Local events
• Youth sports
• Parks and playgrounds
• Community projects
• Scholarships
• Local organizations

Community Traditions

McHenry has much to celebrate. From festivals to live entertainment, building a strong community involves gathering together to laugh, listen, and have fun. That’s why we at Buss Ford are invested in our local festivals, parades, and gathering places that add energy and camaraderie to our everyday lives.

The McHenry Theater

Few things bring people together like entertainment. That’s why Buss Ford helped raise money for renovations to The McHenry Theater. While the building was a movie theater dating back deep into the early 1900s, and underwent a complete community reconstruction after a fire in the mid-1950s, we were also proud to be among the many community investors who helped modernize the old theater in 2018. Today it’s an entertainment venue called The Vixen in McHenry where you can find live music, stand-up comedy, and more

McHenry Fiesta Days

Nearly two weeks of mid-summer fun await at the McHenry Fiesta Days. For over 78 years, this classic Fox Valley celebration has brought out the best our region has to offer, including a parade, live music, a carnival, a car show, beverage tastings, a street and art fair, a beach bash, and fireworks. It’s two weekends of family fun that Buss Ford doesn’t want to miss, which is why we’re proud to serve as the 2026 Grand Festival Sponsor. Over the years, the Buss Family has made Fiesta Days a mainstay of our summer, with Ed and Joan Buss even serving as the parade marshals in 1990. For more information about when you can join us in this annual celebration, see the McHenry Fiesta Days website.

McHenry Music Festival

Another of the unique community gatherings we love to support is the McHenry Music Festival. More than just a great opportunity for community and great music, all of the proceeds from the event go toward projects in the local area. We’re proud to be a major sponsor for the event, which has raised over $1.4 million for projects around McHenry, including improvements to the waterfront, riverwalk, music pavilion, and local shops, as well as the construction of a new ADA-compliant playground and a splash pad for children.

Supporting Local Families & Youth

Supporting local athletes and students is a time-honored Buss family tradition. Ed Buss Jr. served as the McHenry Baseball Association President for eight years, and Steve Buss has been involved with youth sports as well, including 15 years with the McHenry Baseball Association and 18 years with the McHenry Youth Basketball Association. This legacy of local support is still growing today, with support for adaptive baseball, academic achievement, and amateur racing in the community.

Buss Challenger League

Here at Buss Ford, we believe America’s Game should be enjoyed by everyone, including our friends and neighbors with physical or intellectual challenges. That’s why we sponsor the Buss Challenger League, covering all of the costs for participation. It’s a commitment to area families that we’ve been proud to maintain for over 15 years. The Little League Challenger Division® offers an opportunity for challenged players to play adaptive baseball by teaming up with a non-challenged “buddy” athlete, typically 12 years of age or older, who can assist with all aspects of the game, from hitting to baserunning to defense. For more information, see the McHenry Baseball Association Challenger baseball page.

McHenry Distinguished Warrior Program

Well-rounded citizens prioritize academic excellence and character, as well as athletic prowess. That’s why we support the McHenry Distinguished Warrior Program. We donate a $1,500 scholarship to this four-year program in the McHenry Community High School, which honors between 150 and 200 students every year who follow the Distinguished Warrior Program plan of action. This program inspires local students to strive for holistic excellence by achieving a high standard GPA, attending their classes, cultivating career readiness indicators, engaging in community service, and adhering to a code of conduct. The culmination is a special banquet honoring the Distinguished Warrior graduates, which we help fund along with several other sponsors. Graduates are also given public recognition with orange stoles and a special Warrior emblem worn during their high school graduation.

McHenry Soap Box Derby

A time-honored tradition for America’s youth, Soap Box Derby® races help foster creativity, healthy competition, and innovation. Buss Ford is proud to be a sponsor of the McHenry Soap Box Derby, providing access to this educational and enjoyable program for our local youth. Since 1933, the Soap Box Derby has allowed amateur racers to put their time, effort, and sweat equity into building and racing their own soapbox race cars. Today, McHenry is one of approximately 100 official Soap Box Derby race cities in the U.S., including one of three in Illinois. This means our local championship winner earns their spot to represent McHenry in the World Championship Soap Box Derby Race in Akron, OH.

Helping McHenry Thrive

A safe, beautiful, and enjoyable place to play makes McHenry a better place to live for everyone. Here at Buss Ford, we support the creation and improvement of our local parks and fields, allowing both youth and adults to enjoy the benefits of an active lifestyle in our local community. We also support other local entrepreneurs as they chase their dreams and energize the local community that we all share, because when everyone in McHenry is thriving, everyone benefits.

Buss Field

Baseball and Buss Ford are a pairing that spans the decades. Dating back to the mid-1900s, the Buss family has made involvement in the McHenry baseball community a regular part of their everyday lives. Ed Buss Jr. provided funding for Buss Field, located behind the McHenry VFW Post 4600, constructing, maintaining, and renovating a high-quality grass field, complete with dugouts, lights, and a pitching mound.

Fort McHenry Playground

Filling summer afternoons with fresh air and imagination-fueled fun, the Fort McHenry Playground is a classic local destination for local children. Along with other members of the community, Steve Buss helped build the playground back in 1994, and we helped support a recent renovation to the classic wood- and wood-feel playground in 2015. Ford McHenry Playground has been inspiring enjoyable days in the sun for McHenry-area kids ever since.

McHenry Riverwalk Shoppes

Ensuring that McHenry is a thriving community involves work, as well as play. Buss Ford is well-acquainted with the effort it takes to grow a successful local business, and we’re deeply invested in helping others join us in building their own vibrant legacy of success for generations to come. To this end, one of the unique opportunities our community offers is the McHenry Riverwalk Shoppes. These small shops, located at the McHenry Riverwalk adjacent to Miller Point Park, serve as retail incubators for local entrepreneurs seeking to test their products and processes in a high-visibility brick-and-mortar location. In addition to offering a controlled physical space at low cost, the McHenry Riverwalk Shoppes project connects these entrepreneurs with other local businesses, enters them in the McHenry Chamber of Commerce, and offers educational workshops and local mentorship opportunities. The McHenry Riverwalk Shoppes first opened in July of 2023, and Buss Ford is a proud Legacy Sponsor of the project.

Ryan Buss Zone Skate Park

Just across the street from our dealership in Knox Park, the Ryan Buss Zone Skate Park offers a challenging range of rails and ramps for skateboard enthusiasts. In 2018, Buss Ford donated lights for the park in honor of Ryan Buss, allowing our friends and neighbors to safely extend their evenings on the board until closing time.

Community Recognition

Our dedication to the local community has led to recognition and awards for the Buss family and the Buss Ford dealership. While our goal in serving our local communities is to make each one a better place to live, we’re honored when these efforts are recognized.

Frank Low Award

As a testament to his involvement in the local community, Steve Buss, who started running the Buss Ford showroom in 1976, was awarded the Frank Low Award by the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce in 2012. This award is given in recognition of distinguished community service, a deep honor for a man who dedicated his time and resources to supporting local causes, including local youth sports and the Fort McHenry Playground construction.

Robert O. Covey Business of the Year Award

Here at Buss Ford, we strive to make an impact in our neighboring communities, as well as our hometown. Buss Ford was honored to receive the 2026 Robert O. Covey Business of the Year Award from the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce, an honor that speaks to our commitment to Crystal Lake, including the donation of our time, talent, and treasure to local organizations.

Organizations We’ve Proudly Supported

In addition to the many individuals we support with our investment in local festivals, gathering spaces, and parks, we are committed to supporting the groups and organizations that serve all areas of our community. These serve a wide range of needs, from our veterans to area sports leagues, youth development groups, wildlife conservation, charitable organizations, and area food pantries.

Some of our partnerships throughout the years have included:

• American Veterans Helping Veterans
• Church of Holy Apostles
• FISH Food Pantry
• Johnsburg Veterans
• Johnsburg Oldtimers
• Knights of Columbus
• McHenry Area Rotary
• McHenry Athletics
• McHenry Athletic Club
• McHenry County 4-H
• Sportsman Club
• USO of Illinois

Ducks Unlimited Wetlands Conservation

Here at Buss Ford, we believe that a crucial part of enjoying the great outdoors and our natural resources is supporting organizations that help conserve habitat for migratory waterfowl. As a crucial corridor of the larger Mississippi flyway, the Fox River and our area marshes serve as key routes for the migration of blue-winged teal, mallards, and wood ducks. Our support of Ducks Unlimited helps protect the habitat that these birds use here, as well as in the Prairie Pothole region where they migrate to and from, ensuring these populations continue to thrive for many years to come.

Partner with Buss Ford

Are you looking for a local business to support your cause, organization, or event in the McHenry County area? Connect with a member of the team at Buss Ford and tell us more about your vision for how you can make McHenry and any of our surrounding communities a better place to live, grow, play, and do business. We’re happy to discuss your unique opportunities — submit your details using our online contact form to get started.