Ford Expands Social Responsibility in Panama with Innovative Ford Driving Dreams Education Initiative
July 23 2015 - 2:00PM
Business Wire
- Ford and Ford Motor Company Fund kick
off the Ford Driving Dreams Tour in Panama after four successful
years in the U.S. promoting on-time high school graduation
- Ford delivers more than $50,000 in
educational resources and works with United Way Panama and Panama’s
Ministry of Education to meet the needs of Panamanian youth at risk
of dropping out
- Ford Driving Dreams’ first-ever
international kick-off is part of Ford’s Operation Better World, a
strategic global philanthropic effort which supports the company’s
reach
Ford Motor Company Fund is expanding its innovative Ford Driving
Dreams educational tour for the first time to an international
market with a program in Panama that will help more than 300 young
teens learn skills to keep them in school.
Ford and Ford Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company,
launched the Ford Driving Dreams Tour in Panama today. The tour is
an education initiative that will deliver more than $50,000 in
motivational activities, school grants and scholarships designed to
prevent students from dropping out of school. Ford is collaborating
on the tour with United Way Panama and the Ministry of Education of
Panama.
“For more than 100 years Ford Motor Company has worked to make a
better world for the communities where we do business,” said Jim
Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services.
“The vitality and growth of every nation depends in great part on
educating our young people, and we are excited to bring our
innovative program for helping kids stay in school to Panama.”
The Ford Driving Dreams Tour in Panama will focus on middle
school students ages 13-15. According to the University of Panama’s
Research Center, this is the population at most risk of dropping
out of school due to a combination of social and economic factors,
such as the lack of resources for school supplies, meals and
transportation, among others.
More than 300 students from 19 public schools located in some of
the most vulnerable communities in and near the capital such as San
Miguelito, and the nearby provinces of West Panama and Colon were
selected by Panama’s Ministry of Education to participate in the
program. While these students are in good academic standing and
have untapped potential, they are vulnerable due to socio-economic
factors and at risk of dropping out of school. Each of the 19
participating schools will receive a $2,000 grant to support needed
resources that will improve the learning environment for their
students.
“We are very pleased that Ford selected Panama as the first
international market to launch the Ford Driving Dreams Tour,” said
Carlos Staff, vice minister of education of Panama. “This will be a
transformative experience for our students and we commend Ford for
their global corporate citizenship and the impact they will make in
Panama with this initiative.”
As part of the program, students experienced a full day of
high-energy motivational and goal-setting activities led by
professional subject-matter experts. They also heard life-changing
testimonies from motivational speakers, such as former Boxing World
Champion Chemito Moreno and athlete César Barría who is the first
Latin-American and Central-American with a disability to swim
across the Strait of Gibraltar. Students were inspired and
motivated to lead a positive life, define their dreams and acquire
the skills to achieve them.
“Following our ‘Go Further’ philosophy, Ford Motor Company is
pleased to support Ford Driving Dreams, a program that motivates
and inspires students so they can become the leaders of future
generations. By supporting this program, we reiterate our
commitment to the Panamanian community,” said Pablo Haase, managing
director Ford Motor Company, Caribbean and Central America.
The Ford Driving Dreams Tour will also deliver $10,500 in
scholarships through the “What Drives Your Dreams?” essay contest.
The contest reinforces the importance of education while pursuing a
dream and giving back to the community. The scholarships will help
students and their families defray the costs of school supplies,
books, transportation, meals and other basic needs that often keep
students from finishing the school year and moving on to the next
grade level. The scholarships will be administered by United Way
Panama.
“United Way has a longstanding legacy of partnering with Ford to
fulfill important community needs,” said Mercedes Eleta de Brenes,
chair of United Way Panama. “We are excited to expand our
partnership and build on this legacy to deliver much needed
educational resources to our young people in Panama.”
The Ford Driving Dreams Tour was designed by Ford Motor Company
Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, to help Latino
youth graduate on time and pursue higher education. Launched in
2012, the program has reached more than 30,000 students in Chicago,
Indiana, Florida and Texas. Ford Driving Dreams initiatives,
including the Tour, have delivered more than $1,500,000 in
educational resources such as scholarships, college preparedness,
tutoring programs, parental engagement, and motivational
activities. In addition to Panama, the tour will be implemented in
Northern California in 2015.
Ford Driving Dreams work in Panama is part of Ford’s Operation
Better World, a strategic global philanthropic effort that supports
the company’s expansion. In addition to Ford Driving Dreams, Ford
supports environmental initiatives in Panama. This brings Ford’s
community investment in Central America to nearly $900,000 since
the company started awarding its environmental grants in 2001. By
working collaboratively with dealers and other groups, Ford Fund
drives sustainable community innovation through local investments.
Ford Fund now supports Operation Better World programs in more than
30 countries.
About Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services
Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services works with
community and global partners to advance driving safety, education
and community life. Ford Motor Company Fund has operated for more
than 65 years with ongoing funding from Ford Motor Company. Ford
Driving Skills for Life is free, interactive, hands-on safety
training focused on skill development and driving techniques, while
addressing inexperience, distractions and impaired driving.
Innovation in education is encouraged through Ford Blue Oval
Scholars, Ford Next Generation Learning and other inspiring
programs that enhance high school learning and provide college
scholarships and university grants. The Ford Volunteer Corps
enlists more than 30,000 Ford employees and retirees each year to
work on local projects that strengthen their communities and
improve people’s lives in more than 40 countries around the world.
For more information, visit http://community.ford.com.
For news releases, related materials and
high-resolution photos and video, visit www.media.ford.com.
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FordLorraine Urdaz787-238-0191lurdaz@ford.comorComunicad for
FordJossie Sapunar703-807-0500js@comunicad.com
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