As we kick-off the month of love, Ford Motor Company would like to emphasize the importance of protecting ourselves and our loved ones by wearing a safety belt year-round. On February 14, the automotive giant, will kick-off its award-winning Abróchate Por Amor initiative for 2022, reminding everyone that wearing safety belts save lives.

The digital and community programs initiative aims to jumpstart the habit of safety belt usage, especially among new and young drivers. Abróchate Por Amor encourages everyone to take a 7-Day Challenge by wearing their safety belt above the shoulder every time they get behind the wheel. To celebrate the importance of establishing safe driving habits, share a selfie using the hashtag #AbrochatePorAmor — while your vehicle is parked.

According to the U.S Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), safety belt use in passenger vehicles saves thousands of lives each year, in 2017 alone an estimated 14,955 lives were saved by safety belts. 

In 2018, nearly half of the 22,697 passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes were unbuckled – 52% of male passenger vehicle occupants killed were not wearing a safety belt, as compared to 39% of women.  According to the National Occupant Protection Use Survey, safety belt use continued to be lower for males (87.7%) than females (92.0%) in 2018. Among teens and young adults 18 to 34 killed in crashes in 2018, more than half (58%) were completely unrestrained, one of the highest percentages for all age groups.  

Crashes are still the leading cause of teen deaths. Tragically, safety belts use is lowest among teen drivers. In fact, the majority of teenagers involved in fatal crashes are unbuckled. 

Join the safety revolution and take the pledge today! For additional information about the APA Campaign, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/abrochateporamor/

About Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, that is committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for and deepen the loyalty of those customers. Ford designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of connected, increasingly electrified passenger and commercial vehicles: Ford trucks, utility vehicles, vans and cars, and Lincoln luxury vehicles. The company is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, connected vehicle services and mobility solutions, including self-driving technology, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about183,000 people worldwide. More information about the company, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company is available at corporate.ford.com

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Ford and Ford Motor Company Fund, the company’s philanthropic arm, are investing more than $400,000 to strengthen and support Latina small business owners as they battle challenges posed by COVID-19.

Beginning today, Latina small-business owners nationwide can apply for a $5,000 grant through the Ford Driving Dreams Latina Entrepreneurs program. In addition, monthly webinars are being planned for early 2021 to provide critical educational resources, networking opportunities and other business development tools for Latina entrepreneurs as they weather the global pandemic.

“Minority and women-owned small businesses have been especially hard hit during COVID-19,” said Mary Culler, president, Ford Motor Company Fund. “Our goal is to provide much-needed resources to help minimize the economic uncertainty that many Latina small-business owners, their families, employees and surrounding communities are all experiencing during these unprecedented times.”

The Latina Entrepreneurs program was announced during a virtual event, “Juntas Podemos: How to Adapt to Changes and Market Trends.” The event, which featured a panel of entrepreneurs that shared advice for Latina small-business owners, was the first of many online events that will be offered as part of the new initiative.

Throughout the first quarter of 2021, several online trainings and webinars will be offered, covering topics such as financial planning, funding opportunities, branding, technology and communications tools, among others. Webinars will be offered for Ford Driving Dreams Latina Entrepreneurs grant recipients and will be accessible to the public, as well.

The Ford Driving Dreams Latina Entrepreneurs initiative is being implemented in collaboration with eMerge Americas and the National Development Council. To apply, interested small- business owners can visit www.FordDrivingDreams.com to complete an online grant application and view program guidelines, timing and details. Winners will be announced in early December.

The Ford Driving Dreams Latina Entrepreneurs initiative adds to Ford Fund’s long-standing commitment to driving socio-economic mobility in Latino communities across the U.S. and Latin America. The new program is an extension of Ford Fund’s signature Ford Driving Dreams initiative that has delivered more than $10 million in scholarships and educational resources for over 200,000 middle and high school students across the United States, Puerto Rico, Latin America and Europe.

The new Latina Entrepreneurs program is the latest example of how Ford Fund is providing assistance during the global pandemic. To date, Ford Fund has contributed nearly $3 million to assist nonprofits and community organizations helping people manage challenges related to COVID-19, including more than $1.1 million raised by employees and others through its COVID- 19 Donation Match program. To learn more about Ford Fund’s response to COVID-19, visit www.fordfund.org/covid19.

For news releases, related materials and high-resolution photos and video, visit www.media.ford.com.

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It’s not the same as Halloween

Halloween is celebrated Oct. 31, Día de los Muertos is celebrated right after, on Nov. 2. Many communities that celebrate Día de los Muertos also celebrate Halloween.

It originated in Mexico and Central America

After the arrival of the Spanish, this ritual of commemorating the dead was intertwined with two Spanish holidays: All Saints Day (Nov. 1) and All Soul’s Day (Nov. 2). Día de los Muertos is often celebrated on Nov. 1 as a day to remember children who have passed away, and on Nov. 2 to honor adults.

Día de los Muertos originated in ancient Mesoamerica (Mexico and northern Central America) where indigenous groups, including Aztec, Maya and Toltec, had specific times when they commemorated their loved ones who had passed away. Certain months were dedicated to remembering the departed, based on whether the deceased was an adult or a child.

Today, Día de los Muertos is celebrated mostly in Mexico and some parts of Central and South America. Recently it has become increasingly popular among Latino communities abroad, including in the United States.

It’s a celebration of life, not death

Ancient Mesoamericans believed that death was part of the journey of life. Rather than death ending life, they believed that new life came from death. This cycle is often associated with the cyclical nature of agriculture, whereby crops grow from the ground where the last crop lies buried.

Día de los Muertos is an opportunity to remember and celebrate the lives of departed loved ones. Like any other celebration, Día de los Muertos is filled with music and dancing. Some popular dances include La Danza de los Viejitos—the dance of the little old men—in which boys and young men dress as old men, walk around crouched over then suddenly jump up in an energetic dance. Another dance is La Danza de los Tecuanes—the dance of the jaguars—that depicts farm workers hunting a jaguar.

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