Chapman Ford has school supply drive through Dec. 4

Scottsdale-based Chapman Ford and Ford Motor Company has launched a school supply drive to benefit Tonalea K-8 School in the Scottsdale Unified School District.

Encouraging children to keep reading and learning, the effort is part of a collaboration between Ford Fund – the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company – and nonprofit First Book that helps address literacy shortfalls among children in underserved communities and provide opportunities for students to learn about STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) disciplines and potential careers.

Elena Ford recently announced a $200,000 investment that will provide 30,000 books and other necessary school supplies to 1,500 educators and their students impacted by COVID-19 in Phoenix, Dallas and Houston, according to a press release, adding that teachers and students at Tonalea K-8 will benefit from this program.

Chapman Ford asks the public to donate the following items to its school supply drive by Dec. 4:

• Kleenex
• Mini Hand Sanitizer
• Reusable water bottles
• Individual packaged snacks
• 8.5 x 11 colored construction paper
• Pencils and pens
• Composition notebooks
• Colored pencils

The dealership is also offering $250 off any vehicle purchase if a customer brings in a school supply donation valued at $20 or more, the release said.

“This school year has been like no other and we want to do our part to improve learning through the donation of much needed books and school supplies to a school right here in our local community,” said Steve Countryman, general manager of Chapman Ford in Scottsdale, in a prepared statement.

“During this season of thanks, we’re hopeful our community joins us in this effort, even if you aren’t in the market for a new vehicle.”

Ford Fund, which invests more than $13 million each year to support education initiatives to build stronger communities and improve people’s lives, reportedly credits these efforts in advances in providing equal access to learning opportunities for everyone, close the literacy gap and address community educational issues.

By the end of this year, Ford Fund will have invested more than $600,000 and delivered more than 130,000 books to students in Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Miami, Orlando, Phoenix, Puerto Rico and San Antonio since the initiative began in 2015, noted the release.

Additionally, Ford Motor Company and Ford Fund are delivering more than 100 million face masks to students and families with limited access to personal protective equipment in at-risk communities across the U.S., according to the release.

The Ford Fund has contributed nearly $3 million to assist nonprofits and community organizations help people manage COVID-19-related challenges.

More than $1.1 million was raised by employees and others through its COVID-19 Donation Match program, added the release.

To learn more: fordfund.org/covid19.