MileOne Provides 20 Low-Income Families with Vehicles
In recognition of its 20th anniversary, Vehicles for Change and its long-time partner, Heritage | MileOne Autogroup, recently presented 20 cars to 20 local low-income families whose lives will be transformed by having access to personal transportation.
As part of its partnership with Vehicles for Change, Heritage | MileOne Autogroup has committed more than 170 vehicles -- including this donation, valued at over $1 million, to area families in need of transportation.
“You cannot put a price-tag on the value of changing people’s lives through transportation, and it is very humbling to be able to contribute to so many people whose work ethic, pride and determination to improve their lives is so powerful,” said Steven Fader, CEO for MileOne Autogroup. “We look forward to many more opportunities to transform the lives of those in our community.”
The ceremonies took place at LifeBridge Health’s Northwest Hospital with one donation followed by 19 more recipients acknowledged at Heritage Toyota Owings Mills. The event was attended by Maryland Secretary of Human Services Lourdes R. Padilla, Maryland Department of Labor Executive Director Michael R. DiGiacomo and Baltimore City Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young.
One vehicle recipient, Listra Williams, a certified nursing assistant at LifeBridge Health’s Northwest Hospital, was surprised as Northwest Hospital President Craig Carmichael joined MileOne Autogroup and Vehicles for Change leadership in handing her keys to her car during her shift. Williams’ found herself without personal transportation about a year ago when her car’s transmission broke unexpectedly. Working hard to put three children through college and keep a roof over her head, buying a new vehicle just wasn’t a feasible option.
Another vehicle recipient, Brittaney Nelson, a mother of twins, said “This is a truly humbling experience and I am so grateful for the opportunities having personal transportation will afford me in life moving forward. Before Vehicles for Change and Heritage, I was spending upwards of $900 to get from point A to point B while relying on ride sharing apps, but no longer – I can now travel on my own time and save money while I’m at it!”
In addition to the vehicles that Heritage | MileOne Autogroup has donated, our Baltimore division has also hired nine auto technicians from Vehicles for Change’s Full Circle Training Program, a re-entry program for ex-offenders and under/unemployed individuals.
View the coverage of this event from Good Morning Maryland by clicking here.
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