High School Seniors in Texas and Florida Are Driven to Pursue Academic Goals
TEXAS/FLORIDA — As the 2018-2019 school year winds to a close, Ford Driving Dreams is awarding more than $750,000 in scholarships to 379 aspiring young men and women throughout Texas and for the first time, Orlando, Florida.
"Ford Fund understands that education is the engine that drives personal success, while also helping to strengthen communities," said Joe Ávila, manager, community development, U.S. and Latin America, Ford Motor Company Fund. "Ford Driving Dreams and local Ford dealers are investing in promising young leaders, because they will be the innovators and architects of our future prosperity. An indication of this investment is that for the last five years, Ford Fund and North Texas Ford dealers established a unique collaboration wherein each dollar invested by Ford dealers is matched by Ford Fund."
Since 2012, Ford Driving Dreams has reached more than 200,000 students across the U.S., Puerto Rico and Latin America, inspiring them to achieve academic success via scholarships and motivational programs that encourage them to stay in school and continue to college. Ford Driving Dreams has delivered more than $10 million in educational resources for scholarships, tutoring programs and motivational activities, such as "What Drives Your Dream?" an essay contest that gives students an opportunity to win scholarships by writing about their dream and the positive impact it could have on others. Students also win prizes through an Instagram contest that showcases who drives their dreams
This year, the program will also continue inspiring students in Mexico and Panama and will expand to Argentina and Spain. Through a partnership with the Ford Dealers Civic Committee that supports nearly 200 Ford schools built across Mexico, Ford Driving Dreams scholarships will be awarded next month in Oaxaca and Chiapas to 100 elementary school students to cover three school years.
