Palmetto High School's Drive 4 UR School Event

/
Lilliam and Gus Machado show off a new Ford

Lilliam and Gus Machado show off a new Ford

Despite the odd spelling, Ford’s Drive 4 UR School campaign had a great impact on Palmetto Senior High School. On October 10, Gus Machado Ford of Kendall (15551 S Dixie Hwy.) hosted the PTSA and a ton of students, parents and community supports to take test drives of a new Ford vehicle. The program, sponsored nationally by Ford Motor Company, provided $20 to the school for each driver that got behind the wheel.

Gus and Lilliam Machado were all smiles as lines formed at their dealership. Anna Hochkammer, president of MPSH PTSA, was in constant motion making sure everything was just perfect, “I’m so excited to see that the whole community has come out to support us! We are very appreciative of Ford, Gus Machado and all of the participants for today’s event.”

Lines weaved throughout the showroom as the high school band performed, cheerleaders cheered and the panther mascots strolled the grounds. Lilliam Machado explained, “We’ve done this for about four years now and it’s our first one with Palmetto Senior High. This is the largest and most energetic one yet. We are very happy to be a part of our community and to donate to our schools.”

Gus Machado was very excited all day long. He danced on the driveway and drove a Ford convertible filled with the Palmetto Panthers and cheerleaders around. “I love that we are supporting our school and kids. We do lots of events throughout the year, but this is the most interesting and fun. Ford gives the school money for each test-drive and provides incentives to people who buy a vehicle through this program. It’s a win-win.”

Susan Rolnick is one of the hundreds of parents who did their part with a test-drive

Susan Rolnick is one of the hundreds of parents who did their part with a test-drive

Ford limits the program to 300 test-drives, but Gus Machado Ford pledged to donate $10 per driver beyond that limit.  In the end, there were 340 registered test-drives. That translates to $6400 raised. “We had an incredibly successful day,” exclaimed Hochkammer.  A check presentation is scheduled at the school on November 13.