Ford Motor Company Fund to Launch Educational Initiative in Puerto Rico to Impact 400 High School Students

Ford Motor Company Fund invites award-winning Latin singer/songwriter Pedro Capó to help motivate students to succeed in school
For the first time, Ford Driving Dreams Tour will launch in Puerto Rico and impact 400 high school students with scholarships, educational resources, and motivational activities
Ford Fund is investing $100,000 in Puerto Rico to promote on-time graduation and the pursuit of higher education through the Ford Driving Dreams Tour

San Juan, PR. Oct. 19, 2016 – Today, Ford Motor Company Fund will launch its signature program, Ford Driving Dreams Tour, for the first time in Puerto Rico. The Ford Driving Dreams Tour is designed to provide educational resources and scholarships to motivate and help students graduate on time and pursue college. Ford Fund’s efforts in Puerto Rico are part of a long-term investment of $100,000 for educational resources.

“Ford is committed to helping communities bridge the gap between education and students who deserve a path to higher education because the lack of resources should never determine their academic success,” said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services.

Four-hundred students from four alternative high schools will attend the kick-off event at The Condado Plaza in San Juan and participate in a full day of high energy motivational activities including a pep rally. Students will also be invited to participate in the What Drives your Dreams? essay contest. Latin singer/songwriter Pedro Capó will speak to the students and perform. They will also hear from astronomers Mayra Lebrón and Carmen Pantojas, the first Puerto Rican astronomer. Other speakers include Harry Valentín, assistant secretary educational services, Puerto Rico Department of Education, Pablo Haase, managing director Caribbean and Central America, Ford Motor Company, and national dance instructor Rafael Cancel of Cambio en Clave.

Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, is working with ASPIRA Puerto Rico to launch the tour. The participating high schools include: Escuela Alternativa ASPIRA Aguada, Escuela Alternativa ASPIRA Mayagüez, Escuela Alternativa ASPIRA Carolina, and Escuela Francisco Oller Cataño. According to ASPIRA, students ages 14-17 are most at risk of dropping out of high school due to a combination of social and economic factors.

The Ford Driving Dreams Tour was designed by Ford Motor Company Fund. Launched in 2012, the program has reached more than 75,000 students in Chicago, Indiana, Florida, Texas, and last year expanded internationally to Panama. Ford Driving Dreams initiatives, including the Tour, have delivered more than $10 million in educational resources such as scholarships, college preparedness, tutoring programs, parental engagement, and motivational activities.

For the past six years, Ford Fund has invested more than $1.2 million in Puerto Rico. In addition to Ford Driving Dreams, Ford Fund educational programs include Ford Blue Oval Scholars, Ford Next Generation Learning, Ford College Community Challenge, and the Ford STEAM Lab.

For more information, visit www.FordDrivingDreams.com. Find us at Ford Fund on Facebook and #forddrivingdreams on Twitter and Instagram.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for customers and deepen their loyalty. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, along with connected services. The company does that through three customer-centered business segments: Ford Blue, engineering iconic gas-powered and hybrid vehicles; Ford Model e, inventing breakthrough EVs along with embedded software that defines exceptional digital experiences for all customers; and Ford Pro, helping commercial customers transform and expand their businesses with vehicles and services tailored to their needs. Additionally, Ford provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 177,000 people worldwide. More information about the company and its products and services is available at corporate.ford.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 Driving Dreams, Ford Next Generation Learning and other innovative 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 www.community.ford.com.

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