Heritage Donates 5 Cars to Baltimore Families in Need

In partnership with Vehicles for Change, Heritage transformed the lives of five Baltimore families on November 15th at the Heritage Mazda Bel Air Grand Opening. We were pleased to award eligible families with vehicles that will truly change their lives.

Vehicles for Change (VFC) is a nonprofit organization that empowers families with financial challenges to achieve economic and personal independence through car ownership. VFC guarantees qualified families’ low-interest car loans and provides an orientation course to prepare them for car ownership. Each recipient is then awarded a nominal loan which allows them to pay for their vehicle over time and build their credit.

With the vehicles we donated to VFC, these deserving individuals will now have adequate transportation, allowing them access to better job opportunities, shorter commutes, and the opportunity to take their children to after-school activities and sports. One of the recipients, Fadina Middleton, a mother and Harford County resident who previously had to walk two hours to her place of employment, stated in excitement, “Now, I can finally go back and forth to work, work overtime with no more walking 2 hours to work every day.”

In addition to the deserving recipients and guests, we were joined by Secretary Kelly M. Schulz, Maryland Department of Commerce, and Barry Glassman, County Executive of Harford County. Also in attendance was Marty Schwartz, President of Vehicles for Change, and Chris Nelson, now an employee of Heritage, who had been given a second chance through VFC’s Full Circle Auto Repair and Training Center, a program that trains formerly incarcerated men and women to become skilled auto mechanics and assists in employment upon graduation. Chris’ gracious words towards MileOne and the opportunity we offered him touched our hearts. He shared his personal experience with Heritage and VFC who together gave him the opportunity to learn, grow and succeed.

In all in 2019, MileOne donated 75 vehicles to Vehicles for Change and over $25,000. As a result, we’ve made a difference in the lives of many.