Ford pairs teen driver instruction with feeding the hungry

At Patriot Place this week Ford combined its Ford Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) teen driving program with a generous gift of $400,000 to a group of ten food banks in the New England area. The grant was part of a $2 million effort by Ford to help fight hunger in the region.

The funding will go towards creating and delivering 3.3 million meals. Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services, also handed off the keys to a refrigerated Ford Transit van to Cheryl Schondek, vice president of Food Acquisition and Supply Chain at Greater Boston Food Bank. Schondek was thrilled and commented, saying “The support from Feeding America and Ford Motor Company Fund is extremely valuable to The Greater Boston Food Bank and our mission, which is to ‘End Hunger Here.' As we enter the busiest time of year, this partnership will help us distribute more nutritious food and fresh produce throughout eastern Massachusetts.”

The donation took place in the ginormous parking lot of Gillette Stadium, home of the Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots in Foxboro Mass. Concurrent with the “Driving a Brighter Future” gift by the Ford Motor Company Fund, Ford was providing free driving instruction to local teens. Professional instructors and Mass. State Troopers were on hand to help educate new drivers about distracted driving, impaired driving, and car control.