December 8th I had the pleasure of getting to see first hand Ford Motor Company Fund and Houston Ford Dealers launch the Ford Driving Dreams education initiative with a donation of 10,000 new books to nearly 100 schools in Greater Houston as well as a major investment in college scholarships. Ford Fund is the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company. After this launch, the program will continue to operate in Houston.
The book distribution kicked off during a reading party at NRG Stadium with more than 60 second and third graders from Shearn Elementary School. Local Ford dealers read to groups of the kids, then they got a tour of the stadium. They even got to go out on the field! I have to say I was in awe being out there with them! An elevator ride up to the press boxes was just as exciting to look down on the field. Funny how things look so small from that high up. Afterward, Houston Texans football offensive guard Xavier Su’a-Filo read a book to them as well. He was so nice and engaging with the kids. The kids got to take home their choice of book as they headed back to school.
Through a partnership with the nonprofit social enterprise First Book, the 10,000 books will be donated to Houston children in need. The scholarships available to high school students will be administered in partnership with LULAC National Education Service Centers (LNESC).
This initiative is part of Ford’s overall education efforts in Houston and focuses on promoting reading at an early age. The new books will be distributed by the end of the school year to children attending schools and programs that serve low-income communities in Greater Houston.
It is so great to see Ford and the local dealers really getting behind this initiative to help kids have the joy of reading at an early age and help them continue their education even past high school with the scholarships. Head over to the website to learn more about the tour and to sign up your soon to be graduate for the possible scholarship at Ford Driving Dreams.
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