Fran Ford, CAS, president of Sparks, Nevada-based supplier Castelli, A Division of Magnet, LLC, (UPIC: Castelli), has offered a lifetime of service to the industry and his community. In recognition of his devotion, the Friends of Fran Ford—a group that includes PPAI President and CEO Paul Bellantone, CAE; ASI President Tim Andrews; JB of Florida, Inc.-A Division of Geiger President Wayne Greenberg, MAS; The Magnet Group President and CEO Bill Korowitz; and Gill Studios CEO Paul Lage, MAS—are raising funds for a perpetual named scholarship with the Promotional Products Education Foundation (PPEF) in Ford’s honor.
PPEF’s named scholarship—established in honor or memory of an individual or company—provides an outstanding student attending a two-year or four-year accredited undergraduate college or university a one-time award of $1,000 toward their education. Funded by PPAI and donations from the promotional products industry, the PPEF scholarship program enables youth and professionals to continue their education at the collegiate level.
The foundation’s named scholarships funded at the Associate level are awarded for five consecutive years; at the Colleague level for 12 consecutive years; and at the Lifelong Friend level, the scholarship is endowed in perpetuity. The Friends are seeking $50,000 to fund a Lifelong Friend level scholarship in Ford’s honor.
In a letter reaching out to those who know Ford, the group writes, “If [we are] successful, every year a scholarship named the Fran Ford Scholarship will be awarded to a deserving student. A generation of children will learn about Fran’s work, his ethics, his caring and his leadership.”
The results of the fundraising drive will be announced at The PPAI Expo 2018. More information on the scholarship and on making an online donation are available here.
