Ford Motor Company Fund Continues Tradition of Celebrating Hispanic Heritage, Promoting Education and Leadership

“Ford Motor Company and its philanthropic arm, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services, have a longstanding collaborative relationship with the Hispanic community spanning nearly three decades. That tradition continues as Ford celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15th-October 15th) through its support of activities and programs aimed at fostering the general public’s appreciation for Hispanic culture as well as supporting leadership and education programs in the community.

Jim Vella, President of Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services, kicked off the festivities as Honorary Chair of the National BizFest Competition at the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) Convention and Expo, September 19-22, in Puerto Rico. BizFest, a leadership development and entrepreneurship training program created by the USHCC Foundation, brings together Hispanic high school students from across the country to compete for scholarships, prizes and long-term business support.

Immediately following BizFest, Mr. Vella and other Ford Motor Company representatives participated in the Hispanic Engineering Science and Technology (HESTEC) Week. Organized by the University of Texas-Pan American, HESTEC aims to increase the number of Hispanics in science and engineering fields by boosting high school graduation rates, college enrollment, and interest in those careers through a weeklong event.

Ford Motor Company Fund will also extend to kids in middle schools throughout the country through the Ford Hispanic Heritage Art Program, a national partnership with Newspapers in Education. Through this program, students from grade four to eight will sharpen their art and writing skills as they learn about Hispanic/American history.

To culminate the month of celebrations, Ford Motor Company Fund will serve as the premiere sponsor of the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts (NHFA) Noche de Gala, October 2nd, in Washington, D.C. This event, which brings together premiere Latino artists, aims to raise funds to offer graduate scholarships to Latino students at prominent colleges and universities.

“Ford has a long history of partnering and working with the Hispanic community. We are proud to continue our tradition of creating and supporting educational and leadership opportunities in the Hispanic community while promoting cross-cultural exchange,” Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services.

For a comprehensive list of Hispanic-focused Ford Motor Company Fund programs, events, and initiatives go to www.ford.com.

Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services is committed to creating opportunities that promote corporate citizenship, philanthropy, volunteerism and cultural diversity for those who live in the communities where Ford does business. Established in 1949 and made possible by Ford Motor Company profits, Ford Motor Company Fund supports initiatives and institutions that foster innovative education, auto-related safety, and American heritage and legacy. National programs include Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies, which provides high school students with academically rigorous 21st century learning experiences, and Driving Skills for Life, a teen-focused auto safety initiative. The Ford Volunteer Corps, established in 2005, continues Ford’s legacy of caring worldwide. Through the Volunteer Corps, salaried employees, union members, retirees and their families participate in a wide range of volunteer projects in their communities. For more information on programs made possible by Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services, visit www.ford.com. “

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