A cool $20,000 would sure do a lot to spruce up your neighborhood school, right? Hillside Catholic Academy, in Hillside, NJ, is about to find out.

Hillside just won the $20,000 grand prize in the Ford Drives Box Tops sweepstakes. The school received its award at a school-wide assembly on February 8, 2012.

“Twenty-thousand dollars is going to go a long way in providing our students a better education,” said Hillside school principal Michael Butchko. “Initial plans for the money include much-needed new text books, as well as plans to paint the interior of the school.”

The entire Ford community, including all you members of Ford Social, played a major role in awarding this great prize – and for that, you deserve a gold star. Every time you requested a brochure, watched a Ford video or even bought a Ford vehicle, you had the chance to contribute important funds to schools nationwide.

In addition to Hillside’s $20,000 grand prize, many other schools won $1,000 prizes, including Barrett Elementary in Morgan Hill, Calif.; South Ocala Elementary in Ocala, Fla.; Sheffield Elementary in Lynchburg, Va.; Skipcha Elementary in Harker Heights, Texas; May Howard Elementary School in Savannah, Ga.; the First Hope program at The First Academy School in Orlando, Fla.; and Equality Christian Center School in Equality, Ill.

Ford Drives Box Tops is just one way we’ve been working together to help improve schools and communities.

“Since this company started, Ford has always looked for ways to support our country’s young people and their education,” said Jim Farley, Group Vice President, Ford Global Marketing, Sales and Service. “We are delighted to be the first automotive company to team up with General Mills on Box Tops for Education because it provides us a unique way to reach and help students across the whole country.”

And don’t forget—if you have Box Tops points from a vehicle purchase or brochure request that are still pending, you’ve got until March 31, 2012, to earn cash for your school. One Box Top might not seem like a lot, but thousands together can help improve education for hundreds of students.

So, here’s a big thanks to all of you on Ford Social who took part in Ford Drives Box Tops! By helping to spread the word and wearing our special Box Tops badge, you were key to making this program such a success.