Noticias – Page 10 – Latino Traffic Report

GM Foundation Grants $1 Million to Hispanic Groups

Noticias Comments Off

Sep 102015

The General Motors Foundation presents grants totaling $1 million to fund Hispanic education and science, technology, engineering and math initiatives to help empower young Latinos to join the workforce of the future, Thursday, September 10, 2015 in Washington, DC. Nineteen leading Hispanic groups will receive grants to fund programs focused on STEM education. (Photo by Mark Finkenstaedt for General Motors)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The General Motors Foundation today announced grants totaling $1 million to fund Hispanic education and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) initiatives to help empower young Latinos to join the workforce of the future.

Grace Lieblein, General Motors vice president of Global Quality and the highest ranking Latina at GM, announced the grants during a press conference at the National Press Club, where she was joined by GM Foundation Vice President Lori Wingerter, Chief Diversity Officer Ken Barrett, U.S. Rep. Tony Cárdenas, D-Calif., and representatives from Hispanic organizations.

“Hispanics represent an important facet of our business as the next generation of leaders and innovators, and also our customers,” Lieblein said. “At GM, we want to help fund vital programs aimed at increasing opportunities for Latinos to pursue STEM careers and strengthen their skills to compete for jobs.”

The grants benefit the nation’s leading Hispanic organizations, including the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR), the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI), the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) and Service Employment Redevelopment (SER) National.

General Motors Vice President Global Quality Grace Lieblein announces grants on behalf of the GM Foundation totaling $1 million to fund Hispanic education and science, technology, engineering and math initiatives to help empower young Latinos to join the workforce of the future, Thursday, September 10, 2015 in Washington, DC. Nineteen leading Hispanic groups will receive grants to fund programs focused on STEM education.

Cárdenas, who represents California’s San Fernando Valley, said the grants will help increase the small number of Latino STEM graduates from U.S. colleges, helping to put more Americans into the family-wage jobs of the future.

“As the President has said, America can only succeed when we are playing with a full team. That means ensuring that everyone in our country has a great chance to not only learn, but also to succeed,” he said.

For decades, GM and its philanthropic foundation have donated hundreds of millions of dollars to organizations across the country and around the world. These grants focus on advancing access to education through programs such as the Buick Achievers Scholarship, one of the largest programs of its kind in the country.

“We recognize the increasing importance of investing in the education and empowerment of Hispanic youth,” said Wingerter of the GM Foundation. “Through these grants, we hope to make a lasting difference in their lives and in their communities.”

Nineteen leading Hispanic groups will receive grants to fund programs focused on STEM education, including:

League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) – will expand its Empower Hispanic America with Technology (EHAT) initiative, which provides access to state-of-the-art technologies in 60 Hispanic communities across the United States. The centers will provide STEM related student support services to five EHAT sites to help improve high school STEM achievement among Hispanic youth.

National Council of La Raza (NCLR) – As part of its Special Initiative, NCLR will develop a new component within its successful Lideres program, facilitating professional development opportunities for 18-to-24 year-old Latinos and helping students gain leadership skills required for midlevel positions in both the non-profit and for-profit sectors.

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) – CHCI will invest in planning and capacity to build scalable and sustainable models to prepare for dynamic population growth and need associated with the prediction that Latinos will comprise one-quarter of the U.S. population by 2030.

United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI) – USHLI will develop a school-based project for economically disadvantaged students attending underserved schools and engaging the community in four predominantly Latino communities Prominent Latino experts in STEM-related fields from similarly disadvantaged backgrounds will help promote a greater understanding of STEM-related studies, practical uses and employment/career opportunities.

Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR) – HACR will focus on the HACR STEM Initiative, a forum of business sessions focusing on education, recruitment, retention, and Latinas in STEM, among others. The HACR STEM Initiative was created to understand the mechanisms that lead to lower participation in STEM fields for Hispanics and to identify barriers to successful career progression for those Hispanics in the STEM pipeline.

SER National – SER National will focus on an early education model designed to respond to the unique needs of young linguistically and culturally diverse youth and their families. The primary goal is to advance early development and dual language learning of young children, preparing them for achievement in school, higher learning, economic well-being and participation in civil society.

Additional Hispanic organizations receiving funding include:

American GI Forum (AGIF)
ASPIRA
Cuban American National Council, Nurturing Hispanic Communities (CNC)
Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI)
Great Minds in Stem (GMiS), formerly known as Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Corporation (HENAAC)
Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities (HACU)
Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF)
Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF)
Latin Americans for Social & Economic Development (LA SED)
LULAC National Education Service Centers (LNESC)
MANA, A National Latina Organization
National Puerto Rican Coalition (NPRC)
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)

“We thank GM for its longstanding commitment to the Hispanic community,” said HACR President and CEO Cid D. Wilson. “This funding will help provide STEM-related programming, as well as professional development opportunities for Latinos in corporate America competing in a dynamic and changing workforce.”

Protecting Your FCA Vehicle from Hackers

Noticias Comments Off

Sep 022015

2014 Jeep Cherokee

By Gualberto Ranieri

We read about “hacks” every day. All industries are potential targets of a hacker and the automotive industry has been no exception.

Well-known hackers Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek recently teamed-up with a WIRED reporter to publish a story that you may have read about or seen on the news. The story highlights how Miller and Valasek hacked into Miller’s 2014 Jeep Cherokee and remotely controlled some functions. Miller and Valasek have been working on intentionally hacking into Miller’s vehicle over the past year as part of their on-going research in the area of automotive cybersecurity and have communicated with FCA about some aspects of their work.

To FCA’s knowledge, there has not been a single real world incident of an unlawful or unauthorized remote hack into any FCA vehicle.

After becoming aware of the vulnerabilities in some 2013 and 2014 vehicles equipped with the 8.4-inch touchscreen systems, FCA US and several suppliers worked to fix the vulnerabilities in model year 2015 vehicles. FCA also created a software update that eliminates the vulnerabilities uncovered by Miller and Valasek in their laboratory tests. This software update is available to customers right now and can be downloaded to a USB drive from http://www.driveuconnect.com/software-update/ and installed in a vehicle.

FCA will be contacting potentially affected customers with these details and has provided the software update to the FCA US dealer network for immediate customer installation.

Customers can enter a vehicle identification number (VIN) and find out if their vehicle needs the software update. If your vehicle needs the update, you can download the software update to a USB drive and install it yourself. Another option is to make an appointment with your FCA US dealership and have

2014 Dodge Durango

them install it for you at no charge. The update, if installed DIY, will take 30-45 minutes, and your vehicle needs to be parked throughout the software update/installation process.

In addition, FCA US has been working with its suppliers to implement additional protocols to block remote access. These changes will not require any action by our customers.

The vehicles listed below that have a 8.4 inch touchscreen radio system need this software update:

2013-2014 Ram 1500 Pickup
2013-2014 Ram 3500 Cab Chassis
2013-2014 Ram 2500 Pickup
2013-2014 Ram 4500/5500 Cab Chassis
2013-2014 Ram 3500 Pickup
2014 Grand Cherokee
2014 Durango
2013-2014 Viper
2014 Cherokee
Some 2015 Chrysler 200s

For any questions regarding how to complete the software update please call our Customer Care Center at 1-877-855-8400.

July 24, 2015 update: Click to read about the additional measures that FCA US has taken to ensure the security of the vehicles with particular 8.4-inch touchscreen systems.

Updated to clarify: Due to market access to cellular connectivity, the 8.4 touchscreen issue noted in the blog post is for vehicles sold only in the U.S.

Audi Mexico Reaches Out to North American Suppliers

Noticias Comments Off

Aug 202015

Quality-inspection trainer Minerva Leon (right), of Audi Mexico.

Audi may be locating its first North American plant in Mexico, but the establishment of the company’s first manufacturing footprint on the continent is meant to expand its relationship with the supplier community in the United States and Canada too.

AUDI AG invited dozens of suppliers and more than 200 people from across North America to its first-ever Supplier Day on August 20 at the plant site in San José Chiapa, Puebla.

2015 Audi San Jose Chiapa, Mexico plant

The company’s goal was for about 90 percent of the value of each Q5 crossover produced in Mexico to come from suppliers, materials and processes based in Mexico, the U.S., and Canada.

Audi has worked with the plant’s suppliers throughout the supply chain, well beyond the Tier One level and to unprecedented lengths, to ensure that quality standards are met. Three years prior to plant opening, suppliers were going through up to 10 modules to prepare them to work with Audi.

Once Audi meets its supplier objectives, an estimated 20,000 indirect jobs would be created throughout North America at supplier facilities, in addition to the 1,800 Mexicans who are expected to be employed by Audi at the plant.

At this point, Audi executives have said they are about two-thirds of the way to fulfilling the 90-percent goal. One reason for the Supplier Day was for would-be suppliers to explain and demonstrate their capabilities to Audi executives and to meet with members of the Audi of Mexico team to see where relationships can develop

Latino Artist Featured in Toyota Special Olympics Mural

Noticias Comments Off

Aug 082015

Toyota_SOWG_DavidFloresWorldStageLegacy_002_B47B04CE6A43C44CF646F9AABEDFD5AB1D15EDDB_low

This mural at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was created by David Flores and is one of three commissioned by Toyota to welcome the LA2015 Special Olympics World Games, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Casey Rodgers/Invision for Toyota/AP Images)

As part of Toyota’s “Share the Journey” campaign for the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, athletes’ uplifting journeys inspired three public murals, including one by David Flores. City leaders joined Toyota executives, artists and Special Olympics fans at the freshly painted Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum mural to ask for participation and a celebration of athletes’ joy and courage.

Like the original freeway murals created for the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, the Special Olympics-inspired artwork is intended to stand the test of time. Working with the Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles, the internationally recognized muralist and original 1984 Olympics artist Kent Twitchell returned to create one of his famous realistic portraits. Twitchell’s piece and the two other murals mark the upcoming global event and build on the city’s storied history of outdoor art.

“The murals are a lasting gift to Los Angeles to celebrate the life-changing power of Special Olympics and also honor the rich, artistic history of this city that has embraced us,” said Jim Lentz, CEO of Toyota North America. “Special Olympics is not only an important global sports movement, but also an organization that touches individuals every day around the world. We hope everyone gets to experience the impact and help us cheer on the athletes.”

All three murals are just blocks away from venues hosting Special Olympics World Games events July 25-August 2. Each weaves in the spirit of Special Olympics through the individual artist’s own iconic vision. Discover stories around each piece at sharethejourney.toyota.com

Located at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, World Stage Legacy by well-known muralist Flores, pays tribute to the 2015 Special Olympics World Games and events that have taken place at the Coliseum throughout its more than 90-year history. Figures include Special Olympics athlete and World Games Global Messenger, Ramon Hooper alongside iconic figures with a connection to the site.

“Long after the 2015 Special Olympics World Games end in Los Angeles, the mural project leaves a historical monument to our athletes’ spirit, determination and courage,” said Patrick McClenahan, president and CEO of LA2015, the Games Organizing Committee for this year’s event. “Toyota’s partnership and support of the mission of Special Olympics has helped us reach further in spreading the message of acceptance and to make a lasting impact.”

The Special Olympics World Games is the largest sports and humanitarian event anywhere in the world in 2015, hosting 177 countries, 7,000 athletes and 3,000 coaches. It is the single biggest event in Los Angeles since the 1984 Olympic Games.

For more information about the Special Olympics World Games, visit www.LA2015.org. For information about Toyota’s philanthropy programs, visit www.toyota.com/usa.

Ford Partners with LULAC, Invests $180,000 in Education Programs

Noticias Comments Off

Jul 102015

Salt Lake City, UT—Ford Motor Company Fund announced a total of $180,000 for the 2015 Ford Driving Dreams Through Education, LULAC grantees as they work together to promote on-time high school graduation and college enrollment among Latinos, the fastest-growing segment in public schools. The grantee recipients were announced today, July 10, at LULAC’s 86^th Annual National Convention in Salt Lake City.

Eight LULAC councils will each receive a $20,000 grant over two school years to implement a high school dropout prevention program in partnership with an educational entity. The eight grant recipients are:

Chicago, IL #313
Corpus Christi, TX #1
Little Rock, AR #756
Milwaukee, WI #319
Moline, IL #5285
Sacramento, CA #2862
Stockton, CA #2060
Vancouver, WA. #47013

Given their success, two grantees from 2013–LULAC Council #8035, Albuquerque, NM and LULAC Council #4933, Austin, TX–were selected to receive a $10,000 grant from Ford to continue their programs for an additional school year. These model councils will continue programs that uniquely promote on-time high school graduation through student engagement activities such as mentoring and academic support. The eight new LULAC council grantees will begin to implement their programs this fall.

Joe Avila, manager of community outreach, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services.

“For six consecutive years, Ford Driving Dreams Through Education has activated local LULAC Councils around the country. Together we have made an extraordinary impact on more than 1,200 students by providing them with access to technology resources and innovative opportunities that help them achieve academic success,” said Joe Avila, manager of community outreach, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “Education will always be a priority for Ford because there is still much work to do to ensure that Hispanics attain a solid education that will prepare them for the future.”

Since launching Ford Driving Dreams Through Education grants in 2010, LULAC Councils have been able to leverage their success. One of the first grant recipients, LULAC Council #326 in Milwaukee has made great strides since receiving the $20,000 grant to work with at-risk students in some of the most challenging public schools. The council used the grant to start a dual-enrollment program with the Milwaukee Area Technical College and Milwaukee Public Schools. The program has inspired these students to graduate from high school and then to transition college. For each class taken in the program, students earn credit towards high school graduation as well as college transferable credits.

To date, the student participants in the council’s program have achieved a 100 percent high school graduation rate and 100 percent college transition rate. As a result of the Ford Driving Dreams grant, the council has continued to raise and secure matching funds, resulting in a $485,000 grant from the Great Lakes Foundation to continue their educational programs and help more students.

Margaret Moran, LULAC president.

“LULAC has always placed great emphasis on education and leadership development of our youth,” said LULAC National President Margaret Moran. “Although we have seen a decrease in the nation’s dropout rate, we must continue our efforts to ensure all students graduate from high school. Today, we congratulate the grant recipients for helping Latino students graduate and thank the Ford Motor Company Fund for its continued help in this effort.”

The educational success of the next generation is critical to the entire U.S. workforce. In the Latino community specifically, data from the Pew Research Center shows that the Hispanic high school dropout rate has declined and reached a record low. Yet, the Hispanic dropout rate remains higher than it is among African Americans, whites and Asians. Moreover, Hispanics still lag in obtaining a four-year degree even though they are the largest minority group on U.S. college campuses tripling the number of 18 to 24 year olds enrolled in a two-to-four-year college.

The Ford Driving Dreams Through Education Grants were launched in 2010, and to date, 52 grant recipients have worked to keep more than 1,200 students on the road to graduation. The grant selection process considers the best practices for engaging students, including mentorship programs, after-school volunteer and extracurricular programs, and parental involvement. The winning programs also must be sustainable, reflect the local education landscape, and rely on partnerships with local education institutions. For more information on the Ford Driving Dreams grants, visit www.lulac.org/ford.

Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, invests more than $8 million a year in scholarships and other education initiatives. In addition to Ford Driving Dreams, Ford Fund educational programs include Ford Blue Oval Scholars, Ford Next Generation Learning, Ford College Community Challenge and the Ford STEAM Lab

Toyota Helps Paralyzed Veteran Open Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Center

Noticias Comments Off

Jul 032015

Romy and Gaby Camargo open the Stay In Step Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Center in Tampa, Fla.

TAMPA, Fl—During his third tour of duty in Afghanistan, Romy Camargo’s patrol was ambushed. A sniper’s bullet changed the life of this decorated war veteran and his family. Now, with help from Toyota, Camargo, his family and a strong team of supporters are forever changing the lives of paraplegics and quadriplegics across the country.

Camargo and his wife, Gaby, have opened the doors to Stay In Step, a new, non-profit recovery center dedicated to helping spinal-cord injury (SCI) patients take a step forward toward recovery. This groundbreaking facility offers treatment, rehabilitation and support services to veterans and civilians in Tampa, Fla.

Toyota donated $300,000 in last-mile funding to help the facility reach its $750,000 fundraising goal and open its doors. At the grand opening June 20, Toyota Motor North America Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Simon Nagata also presented Stay In Step with a wheelchair-accessible 2015 Toyota Sienna minivan.

Surrounded by friends, board members, and family, Gaby and Romy Camargo cut the ceremonial ribbon to open the Stay In Step Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Center in Tampa, Fla. Toyota Motor North America Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Simon Nagata (far left) spoke at the opening ceremony.

“Supporting Stay In Step is aligned with Toyota’s corporate vision to lead the way to the future of mobility and enrich lives around the world with the safest and most responsible ways of moving people,” Nagata said. “Toyota is proud to support Stay In Step and the tremendous work of Romy and Gaby.”

By combining intense strength and conditioning workouts with a focus on the natural movements and weight of the body, Stay In Step will use emerging therapies and a “never quit” attitude to help patients and their families.

“Stay In Step is dedicated to providing cutting edge physical rehabilitation services and including the much needed tools to win the mental game,” Gaby Camargo said. “We want to create an environment for patients to support one another, share stories and give encouragement, and offer some relief from the intense daily schedule. Stay In Step provides a place of comfort, relaxation and shares a sense of family.”

That sense of family was in full force June 20, when the Camargos cut a long resistance band to open the center. They were surrounded by Nagata, Lt. Gen. Martin Steele, Lt. Col. Scott Mann and other supporters.

Toyota donates wheelchair-accessible 2015 Toyota Sienna minivan to Stay In Step non-profit recovery center dedicated to helping spinal-cord injury (SCI) patients.

For Toyota, the support and interest in Stay In Step goes beyond the donations.

“We are applying the strength and expertise of Toyota’s engineering and robotics to the challenges faced by those injured in service to this country,” Nagata said. “Toyota’s partner robots are being developed to assist people in their everyday activities.

“By sharing this technology, we hope to serve the mobility needs of veterans and people around the world.”

The Stay In Step story began in 2008 when Romy was shot. He spent 18 months of intensive inpatient care before he was finally able to leave the hospital, in a wheelchair. Romy and Gaby drove twice a week from their Tampa home to Orlando for treatment.

Now, there is a center in Tampa that can treat Romy and other SCI patients in the community, helping them continue on their road to recovery. Tampa is home to the busiest polytrauma unit in the nation at the James A. Haley VA Medical Center. The Haley polytrauma unit treats the most severely injured veterans while they are in the hospital.

“With everyone’s support, we have built up a center that’s going to impact so many lives,” Romy Camargo said. “Gaby said that we could do this – that we could open up this center in Tampa. And now it’s a reality.”

Ten Latino Students Win Buick Scholarships

Noticias Comments Off

Jun 152015

The first four-year recipients to benefit from the Buick Achievers Scholarship Program are receiving their degrees this year as the General Motors Foundation today announced nearly $1.2 million in new scholarships of up to $25,000 a year for 50 students to pursue degrees in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM.

Students can be selected for the scholarship after high school graduation or during any year of college study. Of the new class of recipients, 62 percent are first-generation college students and 68 percent come from diverse backgrounds. Nearly one in four have ties to the military, having served themselves or as dependents of a current or former service member, and ten out of the 50 selected are Latino. They are: Sandra Alarcon, Daniel Savala, Michelle Diaz, Sergio Banuelos, Marilu Duque, Christina Flores, Henry Gomez, Kathy Tangarife, Cristian Munoz, and Cash Forster.

Buick Achiever Marilu Duque from Deltona, FL.

To celebrate the combined achievements of the inaugural graduating class of Buick Achievers with the announcement of 2015 recipients, Diego Gonzalez, a Buick Achiever and 2015 San Diego State University graduate, teamed up with Buick last month to surprise high school senior Stewart Martin of Winston-Salem, N.C., with a $25,000 scholarship.

“Growing up, I loved racing. My dad told me about NASCAR engineers – and I chose that career path because it follows my dreams and it’s a way to connect with my father,” said Martin, whose father passed away when Stewart was a young child. “I’m so thankful for this scholarship. It brings me one step closer to following my dream.”

Martin plans to major in mechanical engineering at UNC Charlotte.

“The future of our country lies in technology and innovation and depends on a strong pipeline of highly skilled talent,” said GM Foundation Chairman Bob Ferguson. “Our scholarship program is helping bridge the gap between a skilled workforce and positions that companies are looking to fill.”

Buick Achiever Cash Forster from Purcell, OK.

Since its inception in 2011, the Buick Achievers Scholarship Program has awarded more than $28 million in scholarships to more than 3,400 high school and undergraduate students nationwide. The scholarships are renewable for up to four years, with one additional year for students entering a qualified five-year engineering program.

“The Buick Achievers Scholarship Program has become one of the most impactful in the county, demonstrating our commitment to those students who excel while also giving back to their community,” said Duncan Aldred, U.S. vice president of Buick. “This graduating class serves as a testament to what this scholarship has done for so many students – put a college degree in hand, and set them on their way to further education or the start of their careers.”

Buick Achievers gives special consideration to females, minorities, first-generation college students, military veterans and military dependents.

Buick Achiever Kathy Tangarife from Lowell, MA.

General Motors and the GM Foundation have a long history of investing in education initiatives, investing more than $70 million since 2007. For example:

The GM Foundation provides approximately $3 million annually to key university partners and professional organizations to advance STEM curricula.
Last month, GM and the GM Foundation gifted $4 million to Kettering University to create dynamic automotive lab facilities that will provide a unique education for future engineers, scientists and industry leaders.

Click here for more information about the Buick Achievers Scholarship Program, to view the complete list of 2015 recipients, or to register for an e-mail notification when the next application window opens.

Montoya Wins Big at Indy 500

Noticias 1 Response »

May 292015

Juan Pablo Montoya earned $2,449,055 from an overall purse of $13,397,315 for his victory May 24 in the 99th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

In driving his No. 2 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet to victory, Montoya held off reigning Verizon IndyCar Series champion and teammate Will Power by 0.1046 of a second – the fourth-closest finish in race history. The Penske pair battled Target Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon in a thrilling final 15 laps. This marks Montoya’s second Indianapolis 500 win, as the Colombian won “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” as a rookie in 2000.

Five of the race’s 37 lead changes occurred in the last 15 laps following a restart when Montoya, who led four times for a total of nine laps, passed Dixon in Turn 1 for second place before overtaking Power exiting Turn 4 to capture the lead on Lap 197. He held the lead for the remainder of the 200-lap event. The nine laps led by Montoya is the third-fewest laps led by a winner. Dan Wheldon led one lap in 2011 and Joe Dawson led two laps in 1912.

The 15-year gap between Montoya’s two Indianapolis 500 triumphs is the longest stretch for a driver. The victory extended team owner Roger Penske’s record of Indy 500 victories to 16.

Power, who earlier this month won the Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis on the IMS road course, earned $792,555 in driving his No. 1 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet to a runner-up finish, his best in eight “500” starts. Power led the race five times for a total of 23 laps.

Charlie Kimball, who started the race 14th on the grid, also posted a career-best Indianapolis 500 performance in finishing third in his fifth start driving the No. 83 Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet. Kimball led the race twice for 10 laps and earned $564,055.

Nissan Helps Soldiers Build New Homes

Noticias Comments Off

Apr 222015

Iraq War veteran Brenda Lopez builds her home with help from Nis

Nissan North America, in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity and Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), today started construction of a Dallas-area home in partnership with Brenda Lopez, a current member of the Army Reserves who served with the 360^th Brigade in Iraq during 2008 and 2009.

“I’m building my house! I’m excited,” Lopez enthused. “It means a lot to have the other veterans here, especially with the Wounded Warrior Project. They are like another family to me.”

Volunteers from Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity, WWP Alumni and employees of Nissan Motor Acceptance Corp. in the Dallas area will donate their time and construction skills as they work alongside Lopez and her dad, Teodoro. The new home will be located in the Oak Cliff Gardens neighborhood, which is located near the Dallas Veterans Administration Medical Center.

A Specialist in the Reserve, Lopez, a Dallas native, is a recipient of the Army Commendation Medal. She has two preschool children and is taking classes at Mountain View Community College, in addition to working as an office cashier at a local home improvement store.

Nissan has been a partner to both organizations for many years, donating $1 million to the two nonprofit organizations for the project.

“We are grateful to Nissan for their commitment to help families realize their dream of home ownership,” said Colleen Finn Ridenhour, Habitat for Humanity International deputy director Corporate, Foundation & Institutional Relations. “We were honored to be part of the Nissan Super Bowl campaign and to be building with the Wounded Warrior volunteers.”

Since 2005, Nissan’s total support for Habitat for Humanity has surpassed $11.6 million. In response to hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, Nissan donated 50 Nissan Titan trucks to assist Habitat’s response efforts in the Gulf Coast and mobilized employees to partner in home building.

Nissan employees have helped to build 63 homes across the United States, including nine in Dallas, over the past eight years, logging more than 70,000 volunteer hours building homes with Habitat for Humanity.

The company’s support of the WWP includes a recent “Project Titan” adventure, in which two injured veterans piloted a custom-built Nissan Titan pickup on a 10-day adventure through the Alaskan wilderness.

Rocsi Diaz Receives Honorary Hyundai Hope On Wheels Award

Noticias Comments Off

Mar 312015

Rocsi Diaz

Hyundai Motor America and its nonprofit organization Hyundai Hope On Wheels was recently joined by Emmy Award-winning journalist, actress and TV personality Rocsi Diaz to kick off of its annual Hyundai Hope On Wheels national grant program during the New York International Auto Show.

Diaz will serve as a Celebrity Hope Ambassador. This honorary position is given to influencers willing to help bring awareness to this importance cause. Diaz is involved in multiple Hope On Wheels activities while in New York, including serving as the moderator for a high-profile mom blogger event and panel discussion hosted in partnership with The MOMS, New York City’s most influential blogger network targeting this important demographic. Diaz will leverage her experience and talent as a TV correspondent and anchor as well as her strong digital following to create awareness for pediatric cancer. A strong supporter of philanthropic efforts, Diaz also has her own nonprofit organization RocStar Foundation, which raises money to build and refurbish schools devastated by Hurricane Katrina in her native New Orleans.

“We commend Rocsi for her charitable efforts and are grateful that she will join the fight against pediatric cancer alongside Hyundai Hope On Wheels this week as a Hope Ambassador,” said Zafar Brooks, program director, Hyundai Hope On Wheels. “Her strong social presence and willingness to be involved will aid in boosting awareness for our program and this worthwhile cause.”

“Childhood cancer is an important issue that should command more attention,” said

Diaz. “I’m proud to participate in Hyundai Hope On Wheel’s launch activities. I’m moved that Hyundai has been helping kids fight cancer for 17 years and I’m delighted to share that this year they will surpass $100 million in funding groundbreaking research aimed at finding a cure because one child fighting cancer is one child too many.”

Hyundai Hope On Wheels will carry on its “Just One Wish” campaign theme from last year. This theme is designed to convey the mission of the organization to end childhood cancer. The campaign connects thousands of families affected by the disease via social media. Parents who visit the Hyundai Hope On Wheels website and social media channels can join the effort by posting a photo of their child and sharing their own stories of courage and hope. The goal of the Just One Wish campaign is to show the collective wish of a cure for pediatric cancer. Families can join the effort by visiting the Hope On Wheels website under the section “we win together” or by posting a photo on social media @HopeOnWheels, using hashtags #EndChildhoodCancer and #HopeOnWheels.

For more information about Hyundai Hope On Wheels, please visit www.HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org.