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Ford Motor Company Fund Gives $3.5 Million to Kettering University

20 May 2000

Largest Corporate Donation in University History

    FLINT, Mich.--Kettering University announced a $3.5 million gift from the Ford Motor Company Fund today (May 19), the largest corporate gift ever received by the 80-year-old engineering and business management institution in Flint, Mich.

    The contribution places Kettering on a select list of institutions that Ford supports through its College Relations Sponsors Program (CRSP). CRSP is a program providing selected universities with significant funds to address specific needs. The goal is to create meaningful and long-term partnerships between Ford and the universities.

    "We greatly appreciate the important corporate recognition this grant expresses for Kettering University," said President James E.A. John. "We are very proud of our growing partnership with Ford and look forward to continuing to work together to provide a quality education for tomorrow's leaders."

    The $3.5 million commitment will focus on several areas, with significant emphasis on scholarship and program development, laboratory equipment, technology leadership and curriculum innovation. The specific areas include scholarships in support of Ford Motor Company Minority Scholarships, Ford Motor Company Women Scholars Awards and Ford Motor Company Scholars Awards.

    Funds from the grant will support the completion of the Ford Simulation Design Laboratory, purchase of main server and completion of the Vehicle Durability and Analytical Validation Laboratory. Scholarship and faculty programs in technology leadership, a combustion and powertrain engine test cell, the Kettering Motorsports Program and environmental chemistry research will also benefit from the grant.

    The grant will also support diversity and developmental programs such as the Academically Interested Minorities Program, Ford Motor Company Minority Graduate Fellowships, Hispanic Programs and Women's Programs; international programs in support of student travel grants and foreign language instruction; the Ford Motor Company New Faculty Development Fund and the Ford Motor Company Master's Fellowship in Automotive Systems Engineering.

    Kettering currently has 110 students employed in co-op positions at Ford. The company also employs more than 700 Kettering alumni.
    Ford's commitment is the largest corporate gift and the fifth largest donation to Kettering University's $80 million "Building for Our Future" Campaign. To date, $72 million has been raised to develop new state-of the-art laboratories and computer facilities comparable to those currently used in industry.