A North Texas homeless veteran is on his way to earning his dream job with some help from Ford and DFW’s Car Pro Premier Show sponsor Sam Pack's Five Star Ford of Carrollton. He's been awarded a scholarship to be trained as a Ford Technician, with a promised job waiting for him at Five Star Ford of Carrollton after he graduates.
Ford shared the emotional story in a half-time commercial during the nationally televised Dallas Cowboys game on Thanksgiving Day. In the video, Ford Motor Company introduces us to James Brown, an Air Force veteran who faced challenges upon his return, including homelessness, and shows him receiving the good news.
Dallas Cowboys players Trevon Diggs and CeeDee Lamb joined Ford Motor Company and the Salvation Army to inform Mr. Brown by phone that he will receive a two-year scholarship for the Ford ASSET program to become a licensed technician.
Brown has already started his training. After he graduates with an associates of applied science degree as an Automotive Service Technician, he'll have a guaranteed job with DFW’s Car Pro Premier Show sponsor Sam Pack’s Five Star Ford of Carrollton where he’ll apply his training to help keep vehicles moving, including working on Ford electric vehicles.
“We’re Proud to partner with Ford, the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys and The Salvation Army on this program to deliver life changing experience to Mr. Brown”, said Mr. Sam Pack. “He is a veteran who has faced some challenges in trying to get home and experienced homelessness. In the spirit of working with Ford on something that’s very important to us in what we can do for veterans, it’s a natural thing for us. We’re proud to be involved in it. It meets a serious need from the standpoint of our dealerships. We’re always looking for technicians.”
The Salvation Army gave Brown the opportunity for a warm and safe home, and the ability to start focusing on what he needs to achieve success. The Salvation Army’s Home Sweet Home program seeks to reach out to newly homeless families or those at risk of imminent homelessness and lead them not only to stable housing and self-sufficiency, but also provide life skills and employment resources to fully impact their lives in a positive and caring manner.
Photo Credit: Ford