Ford, North Texas Ford Dealers Announce More Than $400,000 in Scholarships for Senior High School Students

North Texas Ford Dealers and Ford Motor Company Fund announced more than $400,000 in Ford Driving Dreams scholarships for seniors in high schools across North Texas interested in pursuing education in science, technology, engineering and math. The $2,000 a piece scholarships will be awarded to qualifying students graduating in 2016 and planning to attend an accredited two-year or four-year college or university over the period for which the scholarship is requested. The application deadline is February 29.

Qualifying scholarship applicants must submit a “What Drives Your Dream?” essay.

The scholarships are part of Ford’s overall education efforts in North Texas. The Ford Driving Dreams program for the 2015-16 school year focused on promoting reading at an early age by donating 10,000 new books to North Texas children in need, and helping students graduate from high school on time and go on to college. The scholarships were administered by Stars on the Rise, an education initiative by Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Across the country, Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, invests more than $8 million a year in scholarships and other education initiatives. In addition to Ford Driving Dreams, Ford Fund educational programs include Ford Blue Oval Scholars, Ford Next Generation Learning, Ford College Community Challenge and Ford STEAM Lab.

North Texas is a Ford Operation Better World market. Launched in 2008, the Operation Better World framework enables Ford Fund, dealers and other groups to collaborate on a strategic approach to philanthropy to more effectively meet community needs. In North Texas, the main focus is education, but Ford also supports community needs such as hunger relief efforts and teen driver safety.

Ford’s local partners include Dallas Independent School District, Fort Worth Independent School District, Stars on the Rise, Parents Step Ahead, SER Jobs for Progress, University of Crossroads and North Texas Food Bank. Statewide, Ford has invested more than $22 million in community building initiatives since 2000.

For more information, visit www.forddrivingdreams.com.

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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