Four local families received vehicles at the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) headquarters through a partnership with Vehicles for Change (VFC) and four area automotive dealerships.
“Individuals are empowered when they have access to transportation because it enables them to conveniently reach their workplaces, educational institutions, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities,” said Martin Schwartz, Vehicles for Change founder and president. “It also grants them the ability to engage in community, family, and social activities.”
The vehicles not only offer recipients access to personal mobility, but also the opportunity to build their own credit portfolio and enhance their financial literacy. Each family will pay $950 for their vehicle, be provided with a 12-month loan through Sandy Spring Bank and receive a 6-month/6,000-mile warranty.
“Every day, our members see firsthand the benefits, opportunities and freedoms a vehicle brings to its owner’s life and family,” said Mike Stanton, NADA president and CEO. “That’s why we’ve been engaged and supportive of VFC for several years and are excited to further embrace their mission this year.”
In addition to sourcing the donated vehicles, the NADA Foundation donated $5,000 per vehicle to cover the costs associated with awarding these cars, including refurbishing the vehicles and making necessary repairs.
“Access to a vehicle – by having reliable personal transportation – is paramount to a family’s ability to thrive,” said NADA 2024 Chairman Gary Gilchrist. “Not only will the vehicles here today give the recipients opportunities they might not have otherwise, but they also help families build their credit.”
Sport Automotive Group in Silver Spring, Md., awarded a Toyota RAV4 to Candice McNair, a single mother of two daughters and a clerk in Annapolis, Md., who will use her vehicle to pursue her bachelor’s degree in health administration.
Nissan of Bowie in Bowie, Md., awarded a Nissan Versa to Toni Brown, a single mother of a teenage son and a medical secretary in Baltimore, Md., who will use her vehicle to alleviate the financial burden of her daily commute and access medical appointments.
Rosenthal Automotive Group based in Reston, Va., awarded a Nissan Altima to Tammy Carter, a single mother of two teenage daughters and a patient access specialist in Prince William County, Va., who will use her vehicle to decrease commuting time and transport her children to extracurricular activities.
Carter Myers Automotive Group based in Charlottesville, Va., awarded a Kia Rio to Adrianna Boyer, a single mother of two young children and a sales administrator in Loudon County, Va., who will use her vehicle to get her son engaged in afterschool activities.
“This car is not just a mode of transportation; it’s a lifeline that will bring back normalcy to our lives,” said Boyer. “Now, with the joyous addition of a car to our lives, I can foresee a positive shift. The ability to go to the grocery store, attend doctor appointments, and respond swiftly to emergencies is a game-changer.”
About NADA
The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), founded in 1917, represents more than 16,000 light-vehicle and commercial-truck dealerships with 32,500 domestic and international franchises. New vehicle franchised dealers are directly responsible for more than one million U.S. jobs.
About Vehicles for Change (VFC)
VFC accepts and repairs donated cars and awards them to pre-qualified families for as little as $950, enabling low-income families to become self-sufficient. Eligible families are referred to VFC through partnering social service-type agencies. As a nonprofit organization, VFC receives 99 percent of its car donations from the public. Since 1999, VFC has awarded over 8,000 cars to low-income families, changing the lives of more than 28,000 people. VFC’s Full Circle Auto Repair and Training Center is an employer-driven, paid internship social enterprise designed to provide auto technician training to individuals with multiple barriers to employment, including many recently released from incarceration. The interns repair the donated vehicles as a part of their hands-on training. VFC car donors gain a substantial tax advantage unavailable to most other charities. For additional information about Vehicles for Change or to donate a vehicle, visit www.vehiclesforchange.org.