2023 Ford Mobility Solutions Nonprofit Press Release
Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America Joins Ford Fund's $5M Initiative to Bridge Transportation Gaps Across the Nation.
Herndon, VA, December 6th , 2023 — Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America, Inc.® (FCCLA®) is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Ford Motor Company Fund (Ford Fund) as part of a $5 million investment aimed at addressing transportation insecurity in FCCLA Chapters nationwide.
One in four Americans lack access to safe, reliable, and affordable transportation options, limiting their access to essential services and economic opportunities. This collaboration will help support FCCLA Chapters nationwide in their community traffic safety efforts, aiming to eliminate the disparity in accessing social and economic opportunities for underserved communities focusing specifically on the intersections our youth use near their schools in rural communities.
“We are excited about the opportunity to equip FCCLA Chapter Members with the resources and tools needed to impact their communities to improve traffic safety,” says Sandy Spavone, executive director of FCCLA. “Participating in this transformative initiative will not only have an impact on safety around schools and in communities but also pave the way for improved infrastructure, especially in rural communities."
In partnership with Ford Fund, FCCLA plans to empower chapters by providing resources to explore and assess local intersection safety and develop recommendations and support for positive change. By youth involvement and engagement in teen road safety assessments, students aim to offer valuable suggestions and assistance in creating safer roads for all and improve their awareness of the impact infrastructure has on roadway safety.
“Access to safe and reliable transportation is key for people to move out of poverty. Our investments in mobility solutions are focused on grassroots collaborations, designed to bridge the gaps in access for under-served and under-resourced communities,” said Alex Buznego, senior manager of mobility programs at the Ford Fund. “We know connecting people to transportation can unlock incredible opportunities – from healthcare and fresh food to employment and education.”
In addition to supporting FCCLA, Ford Fund is partnering with over a dozen nonprofit organizations to connect transportation-limited communities with access to resources and services, including healthcare and fresh food. Other partners include United Way of Southeastern Michigan’s “Ride United” program and Feonix - Mobility Rising, a nonprofit organization focused on removing transportation barriers in under-resourced communities, and several others.
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About FCCLA
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is a dynamic and effective student-led nation-based organization supporting youth on their journey to become the leaders of tomorrow and helping them address important personal, family, work, and societal issues through Family and Consumer Sciences education. FCCLA has over 237,000 members and more than 5,100 chapters from 47 state associations and Puerto Rico.
About Ford Motor Company Fund
As the global philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, Ford Fund focuses on providing access to essential services, education for the future of work and entrepreneurship opportunities for under-resourced and underrepresented communities. Ford Fund’s partnerships and programming are designed to be responsive to unique community needs, ensuring people have equitable opportunities to move forward. Harnessing Ford’s scale, resources and mobility expertise, Ford Fund drives meaningful impact through grantmaking, Ford Resource and Engagement Centers and employee volunteerism. For more information, visit fordfund.org or join us at @FordFund on Facebook and Instagram.
Contact: Pascale Ghali, (703)-476-4900 ext. 321, pghali@fcclainc.org