North Texas Students Awarded Over $500,000 in Scholarships from the Ford Fund

More than half-a-million dollars in scholarships was awarded to North Texas high school students at the American Airlines Center on Tuesday evening as North Texas Ford Dealers joined the philanthropic Ford Motor Company Fund to celebrate 254 North Texas students from 160 area schools. The donations are part of the Ford Driving Dreams education program that encourages youth to graduate on time and pursue higher education. The program has continued to grow over the past seven years and has impacted more than 200,000 students across the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Latin America with educational tools since 2012.

Students and their families had the opportunity to tour the American Airlines Center, participate in an Instagram contest to creatively showcase who drives their dreams, and be treated to a VIP reception.During the celebration, as part of Ford's commitment to making people's lives better, a Ford Transit Connect vehicle was also presented to Collin County Meals on Wheels which was recieved with gracious remarks by Marzella Tyson, CEO of Meals on Wheels Collin County. Radio host Armando Ulloa (known as El Chiquilin) emceed the event, and additionally attending the ceremony were:

• Chris Rushwin, Dallas Regional Manager, Ford Motor Company;
• Maria Turner, Market Representation Specialist, Ford Motor Company;
• Bob Tomes, President, Bob Tomes Ford;
• Cristina Garcia, LULAC National Education Service Centers (LNESC) Program Committee Chair;
• Elizabeth Dag, 2018 Ford Driving Dreams Scholar; and
• Joe Ávila, Ford's Manager of Community Development for U.S. & Latin America.

Afer a seated dinner, attendees heard from business owner, international empowerment speaker, and accomplished author Alex Montoya who encouraged students by saying, If you have three things in this world – #1) a strong faith, #2) a strong support system, and #3) a strong education – you can overcome anything.

About the Ford Driving Dreams Tour

Since 2012, Ford Driving Dreams has been supporting students in underserved communities across the United States, Puerto Rico and Latin America – inspiring them to achieve academic success via scholarships and motivational programs that encourage them to stay in school and continue to college. In collaboration with local Ford Dealers, Ford Driving Dreams has impacted more than 200,000 students and delivered more than $10 million in educational resources such as scholarships, book donations, literacy activities, college preparedness, tutoring programs and parental engagement activities. For more information, visit www.forddrivingdreams.com. Find us at @FordDrivingDreams in Facebook and Instagram and follow our stories with #forddrivingdreams.

About Ford Motor Company Fund

As the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, Ford Fund's mission is to strengthen communities and help make people's lives better. Working with dealers and nonprofit partners in 63 countries, Ford Fund provides access to opportunities and resources that help people reach their full potential. Since 1949, Ford Fund has invested more than $2 billion in programs that support education, promote safe driving, enrich community life and encourage employee volunteering. For more information, visit www.fordfund.org or join the @FordFund on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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Ford Motor Company Fund