Ford Driving Dreams Tour Extended to Panama

PEKIN, Illi.– Ford has held a community-driven presence in America and other nations for over a century, but for the first time Ford and Ford Motor Company Fund have extended the Ford Driving Dreams Tour beyond the borders of the United States.

Ford Fund created the Ford Driving Dreams Tour in 2012 to help Latino youth in graduate on time and pursue higher education. Since then the program has aided over 30,000 students in Chicago, Indiana, Florida and Texas, and granted over $1,500,000 in scholarships, college preparation, tutoring, parental involvement and motivational activities.

Recently, the Ford Driving Dreams Tour extended to Panama, its debut international destination, where Ford and Ford Fund assisted over 300 teen students in learning new skills. In partnership with United Way Panama and the Ministry of Education Panama, Ford Driving Dreams provided the teens with over $50,000 in grants, scholarships and motivational activities intended to encourage them to stay in school.

Ford Driving Dreams narrowed its philanthropic scope to cover Panamanian students between 13 and 15 years old because this age group is the most likely to drop out of school as a result of poor social and economic conditions that prevent adequate provisions of school supplies, meals and transportation.

The over 300 students selected to receive aid from Ford Driving Dreams came from 19 public schools located in some of the most unstable and impoverished communities in and around Panama City, Panama. The students are in good academic standing despite their impoverished environments, and Ford wanted to help unleash their potential to prevent them from succumbing to stifling social and economic pressures.

According to Ford, the Ford Driving Dreams program gave the students a full day of motivational and goal-setting activities led by professional subject-matter experts, as well as testimonies from motivational speakers like former Boxing World Champion Chemito Moreno and athlete César Barría– the first disabled Latin- and Central-American to swim across the Strait of Gibraltar. 

Ford Driving Dreams also promoted the “What Drives Your Dreams?” essay contest that emphasizes the value of education and chasing your dreams while also contributing to the community.  It will provide $10,500 in scholarships, administered by United Way Panama, to help students and their families finance the costs of school supplies, books, transportation and meals that lead to students dropping out.

It’s very heartwarming to see the Ford Driving Dreams Tour extended to Panama as an addition to its Operation Better World, Ford’s global philanthropic effort, and its pre-existing environmental efforts in Panama. Overall, Ford has now invested around $900,000 in Central America since it first awarded environmental grants in 2001.

While we love the quality design, technology and performance you can find in New Ford Cars or New Ford Trucks, it’s Ford’s passion for maintaining a global community presence that really drives our Bartonville area Ford dealer where we also have a passion for community involvement!

At Velde Automotive Group, we are committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Feel free to visit either of our dealerships, Velde Ford at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or Velde Cadillac Buick GMC is located at 2220 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

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