An investment in education is an investment in the future, and Ford understands the importance of education in preparing young people for the jobs of tomorrow. For more than 60 years, education has been a top priority for Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. Since 2000, Ford Fund has donated more than $100 million to support education in the U.S.
With school bells ringing again, students, families and communities are marshalling their resources and settling into the rhythm of another school year. Ford Fund also is studying hard and developing plans for programs and partnerships to strengthen educational opportunities in communities around the country. The goal is to support innovative teaching and learning through leading edge initiatives and signature programs, including:
- Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies (Ford PAS) Next Generation Learning – a collaborative effort in 16 communities between Ford Fund and local businesses, educators and civic leaders to redesign high schools to be more relevant. Through the formation of career academies within existing high schools, and use of the unique Ford PAS curriculum, students engage in real-world projects and develop skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication and team-building. The academically rigorous curriculum uses an inter-disciplinary approach for fields such as environmental sustainability, global economics and engineering. Ford PAS has reached more than 100,000 students in 27 states, and has provided professional development to more than 3,000 teachers.
The Henry Ford Learning Institute supports a network of charter high schools focused on creativity and innovation, integrated with college-preparatory courses in math, science, social studies and language arts. The first school, Henry Ford Academy (HFA), opened in 1997 on the grounds of The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich. Since then, three HFA high schools have opened: HFA: Powerhouse High in Chicago in 2008; and in 2009, HFA: School of Creative Studies in Detroit and HFA: Alameda School for Art and Design in San Antonio.- Ford Blue Oval Scholarships are awarded each year to more than 300 students through organizations such as the American Indian College Fund, the United Negro College Fund, the Hispanic College Fund, the Disabled American Veterans Jesse Brown Memorial Youth Scholarship Program and the Society for Automotive Engineers Educational Foundation. Scholarships awarded in 2009 totaled more than $1.5 million.
- The national Ford College Community Challenge invites partner universities and colleges to develop student-led programs that tackle a specific social problem, addressing the theme "Building Sustainable Communities" in a unique and innovative way. Five projects receive a $50,000 Ford grant each year; recent winners have included Howard University, Georgia Tech and Florida A&M for projects such as a student-led center to generate economic development in a struggling neighborhood and a unique bicycle ride-share program that uses web-based technology.
Ford Fund also partners with community organizations to support education initiatives, including Ford Driving Dreams through Education, a joint effort between Ford and the League of United Latin American Citizens to improve the high school graduation rates for Hispanic youth, and the Ford Blue Oval Journalism Internship program, in partnership with the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and the National Hispanic Press Foundation, that supports Latino students interested in pursuing a career in journalism.
