CINCINNATI, OH. – Yes, Black History Month is celebrated in February, and again this time around Mustang fans have something special to cheer about. Last year, Ford Performance.com shined a light on native Detroiter Emeline King – the first black female Transportation Designer in the history of Ford Motor Company – when she won a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Gold Medal Award. Emeline designed the interior of the SN95 Ford Mustang, and at her award ceremony (King Presidential Award) last summer, a 1994 SVT Mustang Cobra Indy Pace Car Convertible was there to share the spotlight, courtesy of West Michigan Mustang Club President Marty Mieras. And now, as they say in the music industry, “The Hits Just Keep on Comin!”
That’s because it’s time for us to turn the spotlight on Bootsy and Patti Collins, who have both been honored with Presidential Lifetime Achievement Gold Medal Awards! Bootsy is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame funk musician and actor, and his wife Patti is the president of the Bootsy Collins Foundation, which has spearheaded national “Funk Not Fight Movement” tour to raise awareness about violence and address it through music.
And it just so happens that this dynamic duo also loves cars and own a custom SN95 Mustang!
Bootsy is a legendary bass guitarist who started off with James Brown in the early 1970’s before joining the Parliament-Funkadelic collective and collaborating with other musicians as a performer, singer and songwriter in a variety of genres over the years. In addition to the Funk Not Fight initiative, Patti also oversees several community efforts in their hometown of Cincinnati, including “Kyle’s Fund,” an endowment at a Greater Cincinnati hospital that provides medications and education for patients who can’t afford them, and “Grooveminte Girls,” a project that helps girls become more confident and defend against bullying.
Ford Performance heard about a special late-October 2024 event honoring Bootsy and Patti taking place in Downtown Cincinnati from Bill Montgomery, director of team called “Hidden Pioneers” whose mission is to lead disconnected youth on a career path in the transportation industry. Hidden Pioneers is part of the “Prime Motivation” charity program, bringing interactive motivational experiences to disadvantaged students. Bill had worked with Ford Performance Club Connect on the Emeline King award event, and with the Collins’ connection to Mustang he correctly believed that coverage of Bootsy’s event would be another good fit for FordPerformance.com. Except this time, Club Connect decided that perhaps local Mustang club members – specifically Tina and Mike Scheafer of the Queen City Mustang Club – would drive their own Mustang to experience the event in person and get the story and photos for FordPerformance.com while they were at it.
Montgomery reported that the festivities actually started the day before the awards ceremony when on Thursday, October 24th Patti and her team were invited to speak to students at the Rockdale Academy elementary school. Patti’s visit with the kids talking about how to handle bullying and being cool turned into a school pep rally, complete with dancing. “Love yourself and others” was the key message here, and it resonated with the students, who got to go outside where Patti's Mustang was parked right in front of the school to check out and take pictures. Even the staff noticed how the Mustang was a big hit with the kids.
Montgomery met up with Tina and Mike Scheafer at the Cincinnati Public Library Downtown for the Presidential Award and Birthday Celebration for Bootsy and Patty Collins on Friday the 25th where they both Bootsy and Patti received the President's Lifetime Achievement Award in front of City Council members, the Chief of Police, family, friends, and fans from all walks of life.
“They had food, drinks and even custom Bootsy Collins cookies – a crowd favorite,” noted Montgomery. “The entertainment and production was first class and was offered at no cost, and people got much more than they expected. I saw how much both Bootsy and Patti enjoyed it, not expecting this kind of recognition despite it being well-deserved.”
For their part, Mike and Tina Scheafer got priority parking for their red Shelby GT500 Mustang Convertible as well as media-type access for the event.
“It was an honor for us to attend Bootsy’s Funk not Fight event and Birthday Bash and witness the special surprise Presidential Awards presentation on behalf of FordPerformance.com,” Tina said as Mike nodded in agreement. “Bootsy and his wife Patti promote hope and love through the power of music with their Funk not Fight campaign, and they hosted such an uplifting event, full of inspiring messages about the youth programs in Cincinnati. The show had plenty of fun-filled entertainment, with several noted artists in attendance, and Bootsy even introduced his new single called, “Pure Perfection!
“Of course the highlight of the day came when Dr. Kenneth W. Curry from the Office of the President presented both Bootsy and Patti with the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Gold Level Medal Award, with Bill Montgomery of Hidden Pioneers looking on. They received this award in honor of their tireless efforts to spread their message of hope and love through their music and youth outreach.”
The Scheafers even got some backstage time to meet and talk with both Bootsy and Patti and get some photos with them, along with Bill Montgomery and Dr. Curry.
“Bootsy and Patti both love cool cars and are the proud owners of a colorful 2002 Mustang.” Tina revealed. “Their beautiful Mustang was on display throughout the Friday event for everyone to enjoy. Bootsy said he loves attending car shows, and that his love of cars started as a young boy. He told us he fondly remembers fixing cars during auto shop classes in high school.”
Some time ago, one reporter was said to have asked Collins (whose legal name is William Earl Collins) how he got the moniker “Bootsy.” He said that his mother had nicknamed him Bootsy. "I asked her why," he had explained to the journalist, "and she just said, 'Because you looked like a Bootsy.' I left it at that.”
Truly, Bootsy’s influential humor, musical talent and engaging personality, along with Patti’s dedication to community service, makes this couple the perfect recipients for the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. And their love for the Ford Mustang makes it them all the more special.
FORD PERFORMANCE PHOTOS / COURTESY MIKE & TINA SCHEAFER and BILL MONTGOMERY
