HOUSTON, May 14, 2018 – Ford Motor Company Fund and Houston Area Ford dealers have wrapped up the end of the school year by awarding $100,000 in Ford Driving Dreams scholarships to 50 senior high school students. This marks the third time Ford Fund will help students from the Houston area pursue their academic dreams of going to college.

The scholarship awards celebration was held at the Space Center Houston, a science and space exploration learning center and the Official Visitor Center of NASA Johnson Space Center. Students and parents heard from Dr. Kristen Guillory who is a renowned professor and business owner, and empowered students to express themselves. Community leaders, Ford Fund representatives and Houston Ford dealers joined the celebration.

“At Ford, giving the next generation the right tools to succeed will make for a stronger world. We want to make higher education accessible to every student so they can reach their dreams,” said Joe Ávila, manager, community development, U.S. and Latin America, Ford Motor Company Fund. “We are happy to have the support and commitment of the Houston area Ford dealers to help make a positive impact in the communities where they do business.”

Ford Driving Dreams was designed by Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, to help youth graduate on time and pursue higher education. Launched in 2012, the program has reached more than 100,000 students in California, Illinois, Florida, Indiana, Texas, Panama, Mexico and Puerto Rico. The scholarships awarded in Houston will be administered by the LULAC National Education Services Centers, Inc. (LNESC).

“The Best in Texas Houston area Ford dealers are very excited to be part of the educational efforts by Ford Driving Dreams to help students in our communities reach their academic goals. These scholarships will positively impact the students, and we know that by investing in their education, we are making a difference in their future,” said Larry Gach, Houston regional sales manager, Ford Motor Company.

Ford Driving Dreams’ initiatives have delivered more than $10 million in educational resources such as scholarships, college preparedness, tutoring programs, parental engagement, and motivational activities. In the last three years, Ford Motor Company Fund and Houston area Ford dealers have donated over 20,000 new books and awarded an additional $200,000 in scholarships to students in the Houston area. 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. Find us on Facebook, Instagram and with #forddrivingdreams on Twitter.