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- Ford announces Chelsea Wells and Winston Robinson as 'Roadies' for the 2008 Ford Black College Road Trip.
- The 'Roadies' will serve as Ford community service ambassadors as they participate in HBCU Football Classics around the country.
- The 'Roadies' will travel more than 13,000 miles across the U.S. for 92 days, in an all-new 2009 Ford Flex customized by Funkmaster Flex.
- The first stop for the 'Roadies' is The Tom Joyner Family Reunion in Orlando, Florida, Labor Day Weekend
DEARBORN, Mich., August 26, 2008– In Early August, after an extensive search for two successful Historically Black College and University (HBCU) graduates, Ford announced the selection of Chelsea Wells and Winston Robinson to participate in the 2008 Ford Black College Road Trip community outreach adventure. This marks Ford's eighth year of kicking off the program and the Ford Flex's debut on the ultimate road trip.
As the coveted "Roadies", Robinson and Wells will travel more than 13,000 miles across the U.S. for 92 days, in a Flex tricked out by Celebrity Customizer Funkmaster Flex. They will visit ten HBCU Football Classic games in cities such as Atlanta, New Orleans, Orlando and Memphis. While on the road, the Roadies will serve as Ford community ambassadors as they meet with young people throughout the country, talk with them about the importance of higher education and share stories about their own HBCU experience.
They will also visit various African American historical landmarks and partner with key community organizations like the Susan G. Komen For the Cure, Meals on Wheels and Big Brothers & Big Sisters. In addition, the roadies will be stopping by HBCU campuses and talking about the benefits of Ford's College Purchase Program in addition to hosting various events on campus.
During the games, the "Roadies" will participate in on and off field activities including pre-game parades, step-shows and halftime festivities. Each week, the Roadies will share their stories of good will on the nationally syndicated, Tom Joyner Morning Show. Additionally, they will provide commentaries on the football games during the popular, sports show "Inside the Game." Each week, the roadies will also provide updates on their activities and share photos from their stops on the official Road Trip Destination Site, http://www.fordroadtrip.com. Here, consumers will be able to read bios on the roadies and keep up with their weekly schedules as they travel in and out of each market.
"We are extremely excited to again be kicking off one of the hottest college road trips in the country," said Crystal Greene, Ford Sponsorships & Diverse Markets Manager. "This program has been around now for eight years and it seems like it just keeps getting bigger and better each year. This year's "roadies" are truly talented and we are eager to get them out on the road in the Flex and in the community where they will be able to make a difference on each tour stop. We're also ecstatic about being able to partner with Tom Joyner on this year's program as he is bringing an additional element of buzz to the program."
This year's Black College Road Trip will kick off on Labor Day weekend at the Tom Joyner Family Reunion, followed by the highly anticipated MEAC/SWAC Challenge (Jackson State vs Hampton University), both in Orlando and will end at the Bayou Classic in New Orleans on November 29.
Traveling to eight HBCU classic football games with audiences exceeding 500,000 people, fans around the country will witness Chelsea Wells and Winston Robinson as they set out on the adventure of a lifetime.
2008 Roadies
Chelsea Wells
Wells is a 22-year-old native of Shelbyville, TN and recent graduate of Alabama A&M University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and minor in Marketing. As an active leader at her University, she was the instructor for Universal Cheerleaders Association as well as a reporter for WJAB 90.9 radio station and WAAY 31 TV station in Huntsville, AL. Chelsea also cheered on the University cheerleading squad for three years and was named one of the top ten athletes at her university in her sophomore year. Active in an impressive string of projects, she also served as Student Ambassador, is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc., and was awarded the esteemed Alabama Broadcasters' Association Scholarship.
"I am so thrilled to begin this exciting, new adventure as a Ford Roadie. I can't wait to visit the different HBCUs and experience that sense of community and closeness that you get in the HBCU environment," said Chelsea Wells, Ford Roadie. "I am looking forward to hitting the road in our new, customized Ford Flex and being able to touch so many people along the way. This is the road trip of a lifetime for me."
Winston Robinson
Winston Robinson was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. He graduated in 2004 from Winston-Salem State University with a bachelor's degree in administration with a concentration in Marketing Management and Banking & Finance. Winston is the sole son of Tommie and Grayce Robinson. He grew up in southwest Charlotte's notorious Wilmore neighborhood, where he witnessed his parents standing up to drug dealers, criminals and other forces plaguing the community. Winston had a very active college career, which included various leadership roles in numerous campus organizations including membership on the Peer Advisory Board and as a University Ambassador. After joining the clothing buyer's guild so he would be able to purchase name-brand clothing at wholesale prices, Winston opened a campus clothing store. It was a very successful three-year tenure that taught him the importance of having "people skills" in business. Winston currently works as a marketing director for a small business in North Carolina.
"I'm excited to kick off this year's Ford Road Trip. It is an honor to have been selected as a 2008 Ford Roadie and to be able to drive a vehicle as exciting as the journey we're about to make," said Winston Robinson, Ford Roadie. "To be able travel in style, make a difference in the lives of others and work alongside Tom Joyner, who has contributed so much to HBCUs and the community, is something beyond my wildest dreams." For more information on the adventures of the "Roadies," including tour stops and video coverage from the various events, log onto http://www.fordroadtrip.com.
2009 Ford Flex Black College Road Trip Custom Vehicle
The vehicle of choice for this year's Ford Black College Road Trip is a customized all- new 2009 Ford Flex, which features a 3d Carbon Body Kit and 22-inch Funkmaster Flex Boze Forged Aluminum Wheels. The Ford Road Trip Logo is "ghosted" on the hood and shifts between silver and blue depending on the angle the logo is viewed. It also features DVD Headrests, an 1800-watt Kicker Audio System and stitched "Ford Road Trip" floor mats on the interior.
The distinctive Flex, with its signature side grooves, all-black greenhouse and distinct two-tone roof, is like no other vehicle on the road. Surprising space and comfort, upscale details and features, and clever flexibility combine to give Flex a contemporary interior environment under the available multipanel Vista Roof™.
More information on the Flex and other Ford vehicles can be found at: http://www.fordurban.com
*Please note that photos of the "Roadies" are available by visiting http://www.media.ford.com.
2008 Black College Road Trip Tour Stops
Tom Joyner Family Reunion Aug. 28-Sept. 1 MEAC/SWAC Challenge Aug. 31 Southern Heritage Classic Sept. 13 Atlanta Football Classic Sept. 27 Jackson St.vs Southern A&M Oct. 4 NC AT&T Homecoming Oct. 11 Magic City Classic Oct. 27 CIAA Championship Nov. 8 Capitol City Classic Nov. 22 Bayou Classic Nov. 29
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