On Saturday, amidst the rainy weather, the Renaissance fundraiser, Ford’s Drive One 4UR School attracted much traffic.

Lafayette Renaissance teamed up with Bo Beuckman Ford in order to give students and community members the opportunity to test drive one of Ford’s new vehicles.  In return Ford has donated 20 dollars a test drive, up to 6,000 dollars, to the Renaissance program.

The organizer of the fundraiser, Matt Landwehr, said, “It’s a national program that Ford puts on, and Bo Beuckman Ford is one of our Renaissance sponsors.  Basically, it helps us raise money for our Renaissance programs.”

Within the first hour, even with the poor weather, they saw a turnout of thirty to forty community members, with preregistered and walk-in drivers.

In order to test drive the vehicles, drivers had to fill out a simple one-page waiver with their information.

Ford has been running this program for four to five years. 

“The dealership partners up with a school and you sign up and put the date.  It’s a great cause.  The school gets to pick what they want the money to go to, so it’s really up to [the school,]” Monica Beuckman said.

About where the money goes, Landwehr said, “All of the money goes directly into our Renaissance program to keep supporting the great things that our students do.”

The fundraiser benefits the car dealership as well.

“We do get some leads off of it, but we’re really here just to help you guys.  But it’s a great way to show off the cars, and how great they are,” Bueckman continued.

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