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Grizzlies announce sponsorship with Mid-South Ford Dealers

The Memphis Grizzlies today announced a new multi-year sponsorship with the Mid-South Ford Dealers that will feature the co-branded "We Got Next!" youth educational empowerment scholarship program and naming rights to the team's practice facility located inside FedExForum, newly dubbed the Built Ford Tough Training Facility. Per team policy, terms of the sponsorship were not disclosed.

“We are thrilled to enter into a long-term sponsorship agreement with Mid-South Ford Dealers,” said Grizzlies President of Business Operations Jason Wexler. "We believe in Ford as a brand - it represents a perfect fit for our team and culture, and we are excited about how we can effect positive change in the community together as well."

“It’s exciting and truly an honor to partner with the Memphis Grizzlies,” said Chris Rushwin, Regional Sales Manager, Ford Motor Company. “The Grizzlies’ success on the court and outreach off the court mirror the kind of brand Ford is, and we look forward to sharing in the passion fans have for the team.”

A centerpiece to the sponsorship is a commitment to community outreach and sustainable growth within Memphis. To this end, the Memphis Grizzlies Foundation and Mid-South Ford Dealers have worked together to create the “We Got Next!” scholarship program.

“We look forward to launching the We Got Next! scholarship program,” said Landers Ford Collierville Operating Partner Don Kitchens. “Hopefully we will impact many lives in a positive way through extending educational opportunities throughout the Memphis community. These dedicated students deserve personal growth opportunities, and we believe the We Got Next! scholarships will help put them on a path to becoming tomorrow’s leaders.”

The “We Got Next!” initiative is designed to create lasting, quantifiable social impacts for the next generation Memphis community by providing pre-college scholarships and dedicated mentors to high potential, high performing students from underserved communities.

“It’s important to foster a culture of achievement among young Memphians, and we’re excited to partner with a brand that sees the value in rewarding students with opportunity the way that we do,” said Diane Terrell, executive vice president of the Memphis Grizzlies Foundation and community engagement team. “This scholarship program is designed to be a pathway to a top-tier education experience for students in the middle school developmental phase.”

In addition to the community endeavor, Ford will have the exclusive rights to the branding of the Grizzlies’ practice court area, now introduced as the Built Ford Tough Training Facility. Any future expansions and renovations will also be branded by Ford throughout the duration of the sponsorship. “Few brands embody the toughness of the Memphis Grizzlies the way Ford does," explained Wexler. "Our practice court and training area is where the team gets prepared, where they put in the work that Memphians have come to embrace over the last fifteen years.”

Kenny Myers, GM of Autonation Ford Wolfchase, agreed. “The Memphis Grizzlies are all about grit and grind, and at Ford, we own work. The Built Ford Tough Training Facility just makes sense, and we’re excited about being the first thing you see when you walk into FedExForum.”

Beyond the extensive community and in-arena presence, upon the start of the season, Ford will present the Grizzlies LIVE! pregame, halftime and postgame TV shows on FOX Sports Southeast featuring Grizzlies TV Play-By-Play announcer Pete Pranica, analysts Brevin Knight and Chris Vernon, with complete breakdowns also provided by Grizzlies Sideline Reporter Rob Fischer.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Michigan, manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 195,000 employees and 66 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit https://corporate.ford.com.