Members of the local community and the SCC student body helped raise much-needed funds for Southeastern Community College Foundation’s scholarships at a recent test-drive, as part of Ford Motor Company’s Drive 4 UR Community program. More than 300 Columbus County-area residents test-drove a Ford vehicle at Southeastern Community College on October 16, 2018. Quality Ford and Ford Motor Company donated $20 per test-drive, with funds going towards scholarships for students attending SCC. Hamp Avant, owner of Quality Ford, Brandon Herring, sales manager and Justin Edwards, internet manager presented the check for $6,000 to Dr. Tony Clarke, president of SCC, Terry Mann, president of the SCC Foundation and Lisa Clark, SCC director of institutional advancement on January 15, 2019.

“We greatly appreciate this opportunity to partner with Quality Ford to raise money to help our students pursue their educational goals.  It is a great program and we thank Quality Ford for allowing us to participate,” stated President Clarke.

In an effort to go further, Ford developed the Drive 4 UR Community program, which is modeled after the successful Drive 4 UR School program. To date, Ford Dealerships across the United States have helped raise more than $40 million for local schools and nonprofits, thanks to their hard work and the Drive 4 UR School and Drive 4 UR Community programs.

“I am more than thrilled that so many people from the local community turned out to support the Southeastern Community College Foundation and I am proud to be a Ford Dealer. Participants had the chance to take a fun, casual drive in one of our vehicles on the campus of SCC while lending the students and community a much-needed helping hand,” said Hamp Avant owner of Quality Ford.

“With our community going through another significant hurricane in September, finding creative ways to fundraise is imperative,” said Lisa Clark, director of institutional advancement at  Southeastern Community College. “We appreciate the opportunity to partner with Hamp and his team at Quality Ford and are so thankful they were willing to help us raise the dollars that allow us to assist students with furthering their education. The money from Ford will make a difference in the lives of our students and our local community and it says a lot about who they are as a company.”

The money raised in October will help continue the mission and vision of Southeastern Community College and the commitment to the community that has been outlined in the strategic plan for 2017-2020.