( ENSPIRE Feature ) Three Nonprofit Organizations Were Selected To Receive the Men of Courage Game Changer Award and a $5k Grant
ENSPIRE Contributor: Anastasia Hanna
Ford Motor Company selects three organizations dedicated to empowering African American boys and men to receive its Men of Courage Game Changer Award. The award recognizes those going above and beyond to impact their community and further the narrative regarding African American males. Winners will receive $5,000 each to advance their initiatives.
The Ford Motor Company Fund—the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, announces the winners of its newly launched Men of Courage Game Changer Award. Three organizations were selected out of hundreds of nominations submitted from across the country. The award was announced during the Men of Courage Leadership Forum, which was held virtually from Sept. 9-10, 2020. Online nominations were accepted from eligible 501c(3) nonprofit organizations in partnership with the Brotherhood Crusade and the Los Angeles Urban League.
The following organizations were named winners of the Men of Courage Game Changer Award and will receive a $5,000 grant. The awards were presented virtually by Pro Football Hall of Fame Running Back Jerome Bettis in partnership with his The Bus Stops Here Foundation. The video can be viewed here.
#1 I Am A Gentleman – Chicago
I Am A Gentleman engages, enriches, and empowers young men for successful careers, healthy lifestyles, marketable skills, and well-balanced relationships. The organization provides personal development classes and enrichment workshops, which embraces etiquette and statesmanship for young and adult men.
#2 Brother Let’s Talk – Birmingham, Ala.
Brother Let’s Talk works to address the stigma of mental health by increasing the emotional wellness of men of color. Facilitated by healthcare professionals, the organization offers the opportunity for males to talk about their life stressors in judgment-free zones unique to their environment and within their community.
#3 Teen HYPE – Detroit
Teen HYPE received the award in honor of the late Marlowe Stoudamire. He passed away last year from COVID-19. He was a true champion for Detroit, for youth, for community development, and for equity. Marlowe helped the organization develop the concept for the event, which showed adults how to have an authentic dialogue with youth about difficult topics.
Since 2004, Teen HYPE has reached more than 35,000 Detroit-area youth with programming designed to help prepare them for the world. Every year, hundreds of students in dozens of schools receive adolescent health education that promotes future-oriented thinking, avoids risky behaviors, and honors their voice.
For More Information:
● Ford Motor Company Fund’s Men of Courage is a national grassroots program designed to build communities by advancing the narrative of Black men through storytelling. Learn more at the Fort Gives Back website.
● Pamela Alexander, Director of Community Development, Ford Motor Company Fund; and Justin Kimpson, Ford Men of Courage National Program Manager, are available for interviews to share information and answer questions.
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