The Ford Motor Company Fund has launched an innovative program that will provide first-generation students a range of personal and professional services that will help them succeed throughout their 4 year college journey. The Ford First Gen program will be established at Spelman College, located in Atlanta, Georgia. This program is the latest in the Ford Motor Company Fund’s decades-long commitment to supporting historically Black colleges and universities and the students that attend them.
For those of you who don’t know, Ford Motor Company Fund is the philanthropic arm of Ford Motors. The Ford Motor Company Fund invests in transformational programs that advance innovation, empower people, promote social mobility, and improve community prosperity.
The partnership established between Ford Motors and Spelman Collage is a first-of-it’s-kind program designed to improve the completion rates among first generation students.
“Ford First Gen is a unique approach to helping break down barriers to success that are sometimes faced by first-generation students,” said Director of Community Development for Ford Motor Company Fund, Pamela Alexander. “We are very excited about the opportunity we have to impact students’ lives through the mentorship, education, and cultural experiences that Ford First Gen will offer”.
Studies show that first-generation students typically arrive at college facing a number of challenges, increasing the likelihood of them dropping out. With this data known, the Ford Motor Company Fund aims to be a resource for these students to not only help them during their college career, but to also give them a competitive edge in the workforce, upon graduating. This will be an interesting follow for the next couple years and we hope to see the Ford First Gen program expand into other schools across the nation.
No Comments yet