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Ford Motor Company Fund and North Texas Ford Dealers make education a
priority by launching initiatives that will help 14,000 students.
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Unique collaboration to award $350,000 in scholarships, more than
doubling last year’s support. Every dollar invested by Ford dealers is
matched by Ford Fund.
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Ford Driving Dreams Tour is launched for the third year in North
Texas, helping prepare students for college and donating 10,000 new
books to children in need.
Company Website:
http://corporate.ford.com/
DALLAS -- (Business Wire)
The North Texas Ford Dealers and Ford Motor Company Fund announced plans
today to deliver more than $800,000 in education programs and awareness
this year to prepare students for a stronger future. This brings Ford’s
community investment in North Texas to nearly $2 million since the Ford
Fund and area Ford dealers launched their unique collaboration in 2013.
The new initiatives focus on promoting reading at an early age and
helping students graduate from high school on time, and go to college.
This year, scholarships will be available in nearly 100 high schools
throughout North Texas.
“We are very excited to continue this program in North Texas,” said Sam
Pack, chairman of the North Texas Ford Dealers. “Education is a top
priority for Ford and its dealers and we believe this is an excellent
opportunity to support student achievement in our communities.”
Today, nationally recognized empowerment speaker Roy Juarez, Jr. whose
powerful story was featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul:
Extraordinary Teens, kicked off the program at a pep rally at Moisés
E. Molina High School in the Dallas Independent School District. It will
be followed by motivational rallies at Diamond Hill-Jarvis High School
(Dallas), H. Grady Spruce High School and South Hills High School, both
in the Fort Worth Independent School District.
Jim Vella, president of Ford Motor Company Fund, who was also in
attendance, said, “Our goal is to accelerate our efforts in innovative
ways. By working with our dealers to take a more focused approach in the
neighborhoods where we operate, we are building on our previous success
to drive a brighter future for our young people.”
Key initiatives that are part of this effort are:
Ford Dealers Scholarship Matching Program
The North Texas Ford Dealers and Ford Motor Company Fund have joined
forces to create the North Texas Ford Dealers Scholarship Program to
help youth in North Texas achieve a college education. This is a unique
collaboration where every dollar invested by Ford dealers has been
matched by Ford Motor Company Fund, making it possible to award $350,000
in scholarships to students who live where Ford operates – from Dallas
and Farmers Branch to Palestine. Participating dealers will award $2,000
in scholarships to high schools seniors attending schools in their
neighborhoods. Nearly 100 high schools will benefit. The program enables
Ford dealers to connect with their communities by supporting their local
high schools. It also ensures that Ford’s educational efforts are
reaching the expansive North Texas community. The scholarships will be
administered by Stars on the Rise, an education initiative by the
Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Students can apply at www.gdhcc.com
and the deadline is March 27.
Ford Driving Dreams Tour
For the third consecutive year, Ford Fund will implement the Ford
Driving Dreams Tour in North Texas. This program was piloted in North
Texas with the Irving Independent School District. It is designed to
help Latino youth stay in school and pursue higher education. The
program empowers students to plan and develop a road map for their
college future through multiple resources. Resources include: financial
assistance through scholarships and grants; high energy, student
assemblies; and an essay contest in which thousands of students are
invited to share their dream. The Tour will be implemented in
partnership with Dallas ISD and Fort Worth ISD at Diamond Hill-Jarvis
High School, H. Grady Spruce High School, Moisés E. Molina High School,
and South Hills High School.
Inspiring the Love of Reading
The ability to read by the third grade determines a child’s future. Yet,
research shows that in some of the lowest-income communities, there is
only one book per 300 children. For children to become proficient
readers, they need ongoing access to quality books and educational
resources. With this in mind, Ford is partnering with First Book, a
nonprofit social enterprise, to provide 10,000 new books to North Texas
elementary school children in need.
North Texas is a Ford Operation Better World market. Operation Better
World is designed to increase Ford's philanthropic and community-related
commitment in select communities around the world. In North Texas,
Ford’s main focus is education, but it also supports other community
needs such as hunger relief efforts and teen driver safety. Ford’s local
partners include the Dallas Independent School District, the Fort Worth
Independent School District, Stars on the Rise, Parents Step Ahead, SER
Jobs for Progress, University of Cross Roads and the North Texas Food
Bank. Statewide, Ford has invested more than $22 million in community
building initiatives since 2000.
For more information, visit www.fordscholars.org/drivingdreams
About Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services
Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services works with community
partners to advance driving safety, education and community life. Ford
Motor Company Fund has operated for more than 60 years with ongoing
funding from Ford Motor Company. Ford Driving Skills for Life teaches
new drivers through a variety of hands-on and interactive methods.
Innovation in education is encouraged through programs that enhance high
school learning and provide college scholarships and university grants.
Through Ford Volunteer Corps, more than 25,000 Ford employees and
retirees each year work on projects that better their communities in 30
countries. For more information, visit http://community.ford.com.
For news releases, related materials and high-resolution photos and
video, visit www.media.ford.com.
Contacts:
Ford Motor Company
Rob Beaird, 210.392.6391
rbeaird@bradfordpr.com
or
Minerva
Rodriguez, 214.632.9035
minerva@mrrpr.com
Source: Ford Motor Company
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