DEARBORN, Mich. — Sometimes, something seemingly so small—like a book—can go a long way. In 2019, when Ford Motor Company's Chief Customer Experience Officer Elena Ford sought to help address the large literacy gap that exists across the country, that's exactly what was on her mind. Since then, she has led an initiative with Ford Fund and First Book to bring much-needed education, supplies, and books to low-income schools, educators, families, and students to encourage students to engage with reading and STEAM.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, this initiative intensified with a virtual approach that included virtual reading parties and “Mobile Libraries,” activated by Ford dealers in Dallas, Houston and Phoenix that impacted over 79,000 students and delivered more than 50,000 books, school supplies and safety items such as hand sanitizers and wipes to local schools.
Access to books and educational resources remains critical, and we must keep this momentum to eliminate the barriers to literacy and STEAM for these children.
Read more about the program in Elena Ford's latest LinkedIn blog.
