Sometimes the biggest impacts start from the simplest ideas, and then, they just grow. When we first started a scholarship fund here at Shults Ford in the greater Pittsburgh area, the thought was to offer a local student some help with secondary education.

We decided to give a $5,000 scholarship, and that first year, we awarded it to one deserving student.

It felt good to be able to provide that kind of support, knowing how much college or trade school can cost these days. But as we went along, my perspective shifted. We'd receive applications and hear incredible stories from young people who were working hard, dreaming big, and needed a little bit of a boost.

It was during the 2020 pandemic, a time when many students faced anxiety and mental health issues, that I started thinking: Why just one?

Why should we have to choose? What about the student whose application came in just past deadline or who didn't quite fit the specific criteria we initially set? It didn't feel right to turn away someone who was putting in the effort. The scholarship fund should aim to support students in overcoming these challenges.

So in year two, we made a decision. A big one — but one that felt right in my gut. We decided that every student who applied would receive the $5,000 scholarship. It didn’t matter if your application was late or you didn’t think you could “win” — if you applied, you got the scholarship.

Seeing the relief and excitement on the faces of these students and their families when they realized this ... well, that's where the real reward is. It's become something truly special, far beyond that first year with just one recipient. In 2025, we gave away 19 scholarships, bringing our total up to 93 since we started.

Priceless Potential: Lessons Beyond the Money

Now, if you ask what I hope these students gain beyond the money, that's at the heart of it for me. The financial help is crucial, no doubt, but I hope they gain a few other things, too.

First, I want them to see they can make a difference. They are capable of achieving great things, and this scholarship is just a small affirmation of that.

Second, and this might sound a little strange at first, but I hope they look to me as an example. I graduated from Steel Valley High School right here in Munhall, Pennsylvania. I didn't attend college, so when I say I hope they look to me, I mean I hope they see that success isn't limited to one traditional path. You don't have to go to a four-year university to be successful. I didn’t take that route, and I've found success.

Let me be clear: I’m not telling people not to go to college, not at all. What I am saying is that it's not just what you do — it’s how you do it. Whether they go to college or trade school or choose to chart their own path, I hope they pursue it with passion and hard work.

Finally, perhaps the biggest lesson I hope they take away is this: When you have the ability, you have the responsibility to help others. I truly believe that. If you are in a position to lift someone else up, you should do it. I hope they see this program and understand that principle, and maybe someday, when they have the ability, they will pay it forward in their own way.

The Heart of Our Mission

Honestly, these young people are incredible. My team reads their essays first, but I ultimately end up reading every single one that comes through. It's important to me to see the effort these students put in and to get a glimpse into their lives and aspirations.

Supporting high school students in their pursuit of higher education is a profound personal commitment for me. This dedication to fostering growth and opportunity in our communities, particularly through education, is at the very heart of what Ford and its dealer network aim to achieve nationwide. It's the embodiment of +Building Together" — a shared vision where we collectively empower the next generation and build stronger communities, together.

As I’ve seen the difference the scholarship program has made in my own community, it’s inspired me to replicate it in the communities around my other dealerships. So, looking ahead, my ultimate goal is to expand the program to all four of my Ford dealerships, serving each one's local community. To be able to play a small part in influencing who they become and helping them on their journeys. It's just the most wonderful feeling.

It's been an amazing journey from that first single scholarship to where we are now, and I'm just so grateful to be able to do it because this is who we are and what we do.

Richard Bazzy is dealer principal of Richard Bazzy’s Shults Ford in the greater Pittsburgh area.