Deerfield Beach, Fla. - Before she heads to Florida State University in the fall, Ashley Greene's summer plans involve doing something that may seem decidedly uncool to the average high school graduate - spending lots of time with her family. "I'm the first one in my family to go off to college, and if it wasn't for the support and encouragement of my parents, I wouldn't be in the position I am today," said Greene. "They're my strength."
Greene, who recently graduated from American Senior High School in Miami, was named the 2003 Jerome Edmund Gray Youth Achiever Award recipient for South Florida and honored in March at the 11th annual African-American Achievers award ceremony, for exemplifying outstanding academics and leadership. Her self-motivation helped her balance a demanding schedule of all gifted, advanced placement and honors classes, coupled with her participation in numerous extracurricular organizations and student government. This summer, Greene is returning to her former high school to coach the dance team she enjoyed as a student, as well as participating in Camp Kanya's Auxiliary Camp at the University of Miami, where she will teach dance to middle school students.
The Jerome Edmund Gray Youth Achiever Award, sponsored by The Jim Moran Foundation (www.jimmoranfoundation.org ), is a need-based, four-year scholarship to Florida State University (FSU) that is awarded provided the recipient qualifies for financial aid and has been accepted for admission. This South Florida scholarship is available to high school seniors in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Nominations were requested through high school guidance counselors in those school districts and an independent panel of distinguished community leaders selected The Foundation's 2003 honoree.
"The future belongs to those who prepare for it," said Jim Moran, founder of The Jim Moran Foundation and honorary chairman of automotive company JM Family Enterprises, Inc. and Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC, the companies that sponsor the African-American Achievers annual awards event. "I am proud that The Jim Moran Foundation can play a part in helping bright young people like Ashley get ready for a great future."
The mission of The Jim Moran Foundation, a non-profit charitable organization 501(c)(3), is to improve the quality of life for the youth and families of Florida through the support of innovative programs and opportunities that meet the ever-changing needs of the community.
A $7.6 billion diversified automotive company, JM Family Enterprises, Inc. (www.jmfamily.com) is ranked by Forbes as the 13th largest privately held company in the U.S. In January 2003, the company was ranked by a survey in FORTUNE magazine as the 14th Best Company to Work For in America. Its flagship company, Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC is the nation's largest franchised distributor of Toyota vehicles.