Ford Pledges $50,000 to Hites Transfer Scholarship Challenge
The Ford College Student Purchase Program has pledged $50,000 to kick off
the Hites Transfer Scholarship Challenge. During Phi Theta Kappa's recent
International Convention, Ford's Crystal Greene accepted the Alliance
for Educational Excellence Award, presented to the Ford College Student
Purchase Program. In her acceptance speech she announced the $50,000 pledge.
"Ford
has once again shown their commitment to community colleges and higher
education," said Phi Theta Kappa Executive Director Rod A. Risley. "We
were pleased to recognize their past contributions through the Alliance
for Educational Excellence Award, and we were totally surprised - and totally
thrilled - to hear Ms. Greene's announcement of their generous contribution
to the Hites Scholarship Challenge."
The Hites Family Community
College Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis, Missouri, has offered to
help establish a $1 million transfer scholarship endowment for Phi Theta
Kappa, based on an almost 2-1 match. Phi Theta Kappa has been challenged
to raise $350,000, which will be matched almost 2-1 by the Hites Family Foundation
to create the $1 million endowment.
The Hites Challenge was
announced by Executive Director Risley just before Board Chair Kip Johnson
presented the Alliance for Educational Excellence Award, Phi Theta Kappa's
highest honor for foundations, organizations and associations. Greene
is Sponsorships and Alliance Marketing Manager.
In making
the presentation, Johnson thanked the Ford College Student Purchase Program
for providing financial assistance to Project
Graduation, Phi Theta Kappa's civic engagement initiative that
uses college commencements as a vehicle to collect non-perishable food
items and books for community service agencies.
"Since 2002,
Ford and Phi Theta Kappa have worked together to battle the societal issues
of hunger and illiteracy," Johnson said, citing collections of approximately
535,000 food items and 410,000 books.
"Ford has supported Phi
Theta Kappa members and community college students in their efforts to
become engaged citizens, and reinforced the value of service - teaching
our members that as scholars and leaders, they have a responsibility to
improve their communities," Johnson said.
Contributions
to the Hites Scholarship Challenge from Convention attendees and other
sources are currently being tabulated and will be announced soon. For information
about the Hites Challenge and donations to the Challenge and the 1918 Club,
celebrating Phi Theta Kappa's 90th anniversary, contact Director of Institutional
Advancement Dr. Nancy
Rieves at 1.800.946.9995, ext. 3537.
