The Brickyard 400 will make history once again this year as the No. 38 FFA + CSX Living to Serve Ford becomes the first car to represent the 87-year-old, Indianapolis-based agricultural education and youth service organization, the largest of its kind with more than 610,240 student members interested in agriculture, as a primary sponsor in a NASCAR race.
“I can’t think of a better place to celebrate the future of American agriculture and community service than the Brickyard 400,” says David Gilliland, driver of the No. 38 FFA + CSX Living to Serve Ford. “FFA members bring so much energy, commitment and service to our country. It is quite an honor to drive for them.”
CSX, the nation’s third largest railroad, is one of six Platinum Sponsors for the National FFA Foundation, giving more than $1M annually since 2011. Both of the organizations make citizenship and community service top priorities with their shared “Living to Serve” partnership, which is supported by the CSX “Beyond Our Rails” program. In 2014, more than $1.77M in time was invested as part of Living to Serve and nearly 50,000 community members were served by 84 chapters in 34 states.
The two organizations work together on a number of initiatives to improve leadership, development, service-learning and environmental stewardship, including the following:
– Living To Serve Environmental Grants (Up to $2,000 to chapter for an environmental service project the provides FFA members the tools to make a difference in their local communities – around 70 of these per year are awarded)
– State FFA Grants (22 $10,000-$25,000 grants for an array of programs and activities)
– National FFA Scholarship Program (Scholarships of $1k/yr for 4 years)
– State Officer Pathway Program (Training for state FFA officers to help enhance their confidence and leadership skills)
– Washington Leadership Conference (Students learn to be effective leaders by learning their purpose, how to value people and how to take action to serve others)
– Engagement & Stewardship Intern (FFA member gets CSR experience with a major corporation)