Dearborn’s Ford Motor Co. Fund has gifted each of the Detroit Youth Choir’s 52 members with $1,000 scholarships. The company is also providing a 15-passenger Transit van for the group’s mobility needs, which include transportation to and from rehearsals and community performances.
“We share the pride and excitement of Detroiters everywhere in recognizing these remarkable and talented young people,” says Jim Vella, president of Ford Motor Co. Fund. “We’re thrilled to be able to help them not only with their transportation challenges, but also the next chapter of their lives.”
After a special rehearsal at the historic Michigan Central Station, Ford Fund presented the choir members with their scholarships. This comes a week after the choir’s performance that earned it second place on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.” While the choir missed out on the grand prize of $1 million, throughout the summer their performances drew national attention to Detroit arts.
Detroit Youth Choir, a nonprofit serving young people pursuing interests in music education, dance, and theatrical arts, was founded in 1996. Focusing on youth from ages 8-18, the program teaches its enrollees to develop their creativity and life skills. Throughout the program’s more than 20 years of service, the choir has maintained a 98 percent graduation rate.
Ford and Ford Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford, have invested more than $177 million in the community’s culture, education, arts, and youth for 10 years.
