120 students invited to visit the Ford Regional HQ as part of gang prevention program

Santa Ana Police Department Community Alert: 120 STUDENTS INVITED FOR AN INSIDE LOOK AT FORD REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS FOR GANG PREVENTION INCENTIVE

ORANGE COUNTY – Ford Motor Company (Ford) invited 120 elementary and middle school at-risk students to visit its Irvine design facilities Friday, Dec. 6, 2013, as an incentive for positive behavior, perfect attendance, and staying out of gangs. To earn this reward, the students met a challenge to have no unexcused absences, criminal activity or arrests, violence or weapons on campus, and gang-related clothing, writing, or behavior.

During their visit to the Ford Irvine headquarters, students will be among the first to see the all-new Ford Mustang which will have debuted globally on Dec. 5, 2013. They will spend time with Ford’s design team learning about the studio design process of concept cars including the Shelby Cobra Concept, Bronco Concept, Start Concept, Bullitt Mustang, and the Hot Wheels Transit Connect and will also interact with Ford employees in a variety of games and activities with prizes. Lunch will be provided courtesy of Taco Bell.

Media interested in attending are asked to arrive at the Ford building by 8:30 a.m. Dec. 6, 2013, and may RSVP via email to Orange County District Attorney Spokesperson Farrah Emami at Farrah.Emami@da.ocgov.com or to Rosana Torres at Rosana@fsbcorestrategies.com.

Ford has teamed with Orange County law enforcement in the Orange County Gang Reduction and Intervention Partnership (OC GRIP), which aims to prevent juveniles from being victims of or participants in gang crimes by identifying at-risk youth, increasing school attendance, and decreasing gang activity.

“Ford is proud to continue expanding our partnership with OC GRIP on behalf of these local students,” said Tom Brewer, general manager of Ford Motor Company West Market Area. “Through this program, right before our eyes, our team has seen children become more engaged with learning. It demonstrates the change we can make in our communities when local organizations like Ford and OC GRIP partner together.”

During the event, students will meet special VIP guest speaker, professional skateboarder Ryan Sheckler. Also on hand will be Henry Ford III, great-great grandson of Ford Motor Company founder Henry Ford, as well as law enforcement officers and prosecutors who will talk to students about positive life choices and the negative effects of criminal street gangs.

Ford Incentive and Mentoring Program at Elementary and Middle Schools

Between September and December 2013, regional Ford employees, including Henry Ford III, visited OC GRIP schools monthly, getting to know the students and sharing about their careers to provide students a close look at how cars are designed and sold.

During these visits, Ford and OC GRIP identified 120 at-risk students, ages 9 to 13 in grades 4 through 8, who were given an incentive to improve their grades, attendance, and behavior. All of the students met the challenge and were mentored by Ford employees, including guidance and encouragement for positive decision making and an incentive-driven reward visit to the Ford headquarters.

The 12 schools that participated are from the cities of Buena Park, Mission Viejo, Orange, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, and Stanton, and include Adams Elementary School, Bernice Ayer Middle School, Davis Elementary School, Gilbert Elementary School, Kinoshita Elementary School, Robert M. Pyles Elementary School, San Juan Elementary School, Santiago Middle School, Shorecliff Middle School, Viejo Elementary School, Whitaker Elementary School, and Yorba Middle School.

Countywide, OC GRIP is composed of eight law enforcement partners including the Buena Park Police Department, Garden Grove Police Department, Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Orange Police Department, Orange County Probation Department, Santa Ana Police Department, Santa Ana School Police Department and is active in the cities of Buena Park, Garden Grove, Mission Viejo, Orange, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Stanton, and unincorporated North Orange County.
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