Ford Motor Company Supports Military Families Through Red Cross Nurse Assistant Training Scholarships

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For a fourth year, the Ford Motor Company is supporting the military community by sponsoring 175 scholarships for workplace development training through the American Red Cross.

The Red Cross Nurse Assistant Training Program is designed to teach students the information and skills needed to become Certified Nurse Assistants (CNA) who provide quality care in nursing homes and other health care settings. Military members, veterans and their families in Detroit, Mich., Nashville, Tenn., Washington, DC, Louisville, Ky., Atlanta, Ga., and the Florida region will be eligible for the scholarships.

"Founded by a battlefield nurse, the Red Cross has supported men and women in uniform for more than 100 years—combined with Ford's unwavering commitment of our nation's heroes, we have created a strong partnership to help build more resilient military families," said Koby Langley, a senior vice president overseeing military and veteran programs and support at the American Red Cross. "These scholarships will help military families by providing access to high-quality education and vital job development and work readiness resources to help graduates find employment anywhere in the world." 

"Military veterans and their families have sacrificed much to protect our freedom and way of life," said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. "We're proud to continue our work with the American Red Cross and provide opportunities for more veterans to build new careers in the health care field to strengthen their families and their communities."

As part of this training, the Red Cross prepares students for upcoming job interviews; hosts job fairs so graduates can speak face-to-face with potential employers, and supports graduates' efforts at seeking financial independence. Graduates complete the program with nationally recognized CNA certification, First Aid/CPR/AED certification, supplemental life-skills, including financial management and career development, and a desire to serve their families and communities.

Over the last three years, students from military families have completed the Ford grant program with a high pass rate greater than 90 percent and employment rate of nearly 75 percent.

About Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services:
Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services works with community partners to advance driving safety, education and community life. For more than 60 years, Ford Motor Company Fund has operated with ongoing funding from Ford Motor Company. The award-winning Ford Driving Skills for Life program teaches new drivers through a variety of hands-on and interactive methods. Innovation in education is encouraged through national programs that enhance high school learning and provide college scholarships and university grants. Through the Ford Volunteer Corps, 25,000 Ford employees and dealers work on projects each year that better their communities in more than 20 countries. For more information, visit www.community.ford.com. 

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

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SOURCE American Red Cross