Scholarship winners at the 10-year anniversary of the Scholarship Fund in 2019
Scholarships for Children of Cox Employees
The year after he launched Cox Conserves , he began helping people in another way by establishing and personally funding The Jim Kennedy Scholarship Fund in 2008 . The program is open to any high school senior whose parent has worked at a Cox company full time for at least three years . The scholarship provides $ 10,000 annually toward the cost of tuition for 15 children each year . If the students maintain their eligibility requirements , they can renew for a total of four years .
Emma Thurston , daughter of Cox Automotive team member Forrest Thurston , was a recipient of the scholarship in 2019 . She shared the impact the scholarship had on her life : “ This scholarship has given me a sense of relief knowing that I won ’ t be struggling after college in extreme debt . Instead , I can focus my time after college on expanding my career and building a brand rather than strictly working to earn money and pay off debt .”
Read more about this year ’ s Jim Kennedy Scholarship Fund recipients on Page 10 .
“ Jim has been a shining example of walking the right path and strengthening the values upon which this company was built .”
Alex Taylor , chairman and CEO
A Special Moment
Jim Kennedy with his baby granddaughter
When it comes to his own children , and now grandchildren , Jim continues to be there for them when they need him . His daughter Barbara shared this story about the birth of her third child :
“ My mom wasn ’ t feeling well so my dad traveled to London to be with us for the birth . We spent the weekend together and had one final meal before my scheduled C-section on Monday evening . Dad ’ s task was to stay with the older children and keep them company with the babysitter . The next thing we knew , the phone rang in our hospital room and the nurses told me my father was there and wanted to come up to my room . I was thinking ( and laughing ) that I hadn ’ t even had the baby yet , this wasn ’ t the plan ! So up came Dad and I asked him what was going on .
“ He said he couldn ’ t sit there at home and that he was too anxious . He said he needed to be at the hospital with us . Of course it was okay , so we sat there together , placed our last bets on if it would be a girl or boy , and eventually the nurse came to get me . I told him that it was going to be a long wait , but he said it was fine , you could tell it was the dad in him who was anxious and worrying about his daughter and new grandchild . Everything went fine and eventually I ’ m wheeled back into the recovery room . There , waiting for me , is ‘ Big Jim ,’ sitting there with this sense of relief on his face . To this day , he still boasts that he was the first to hold her after my husband and me . It was a special moment for all of us .”