HACU President and CEO Antonio Flores presented HACU’s Extraordinary Philanthropic Partner Award to Ford Motor Company, a longstanding partner of HACU, the nation’s leading voice for Hispanic higher education.

“Ford Motor Company represents the very best of what corporate philanthropy can accomplish in creating a better future for Hispanic Americans and for all Americans. We applaud the leadership and dedication to diversity that Ford embraces,” Flores said in presenting the award at special ceremonies at HACU’s 16th Annual Conference. Ford Motor Company is a sponsor of the national conference under way in Denver, Colorado.

HACU represents more than 335 member and partner colleges and universities that collectively serve more than two-thirds of all Hispanic higher education students in the United States.

Ford, the world’s second-largest automotive company, annually awards millions of dollars to education, environmental, public policy, health, social, civic affairs, community development, arts and humanities programs through the Ford Motor Company Fund. Ford Fund grants to nonprofit organizations totaled $112.6 million in 2001 alone.

The Ford Corporate Scholars program provides scholarships and internship opportunities to Hispanic and other minority students nationwide. The Ford Fund College Relations Sponsor Program supports recruitment, retention, research, curriculum development and minority excellence programs at more than two dozen colleges and universities.