Transportation is Transformational. Changing Lives One Vehicle at a Time.
Through Their Partnership with Vehicles for Change, Heritage Mazda Bel Air Donates Five Vehicles to Deserving Families at Their Grand Opening Ceremony.
In partnership with Vehicles for Change, Heritage Mazda Bel Air transformed the lives of five Baltimore families on November 15th at the Heritage Mazda Bel Air Grand Opening. We were overjoyed to award eligible families with vehicles at an affordable price 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 small loan which allows them to pay for their vehicle overtime and build 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 would have to walk two hours to her place of employment, stated in excitement and appreciation, “Now, I can finally go back and forth to work, work overtime and no more walking.”
In addition to our gratified recipients and crowd of guests, we were honored to be 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 | MileOne Autogroup, 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 touched our hearts, as he shared his personal experience with Heritage and VFC. Giving him the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed has truly transformed Chris’ life.
Heritage | MileOne Autogroup is proud to be a partner of VFC. Since 2017, we have had the pleasure of changing the lives of over 35 families through vehicle donation and employment of Full Circle graduates, proving to all that transportation truly is transformational.
Jazmon Lankford, a teacher and mother of two from Wicomico County, ready to hit the road in her “new” Mazda.
Regional Director of Variable Operations, Michael Barnes, hands over the keys to Aleshia Carroll's “new” Ford.
Fadina Middleton happily accepts the keys to her “new” Chevrolet from General Sales Manager, Rodney Dais.
Secretary Kelly M. Schulz, Maryland Department of Commerce, grants Heritage Mazda Bel Air a Secretary’s Citation to Divisional President, Constantine Spivak.
Vehicles for Change President, Martin Schwartz, talks about the impact of Heritage | MileOne’s partnership with VFC within the local community and for local community members.
Barry Glassman, County Executive of Harford County, awards Constantine Spivak, Divisional President, a Grand Opening certificate for Heritage Mazda Bel Air.
Chris Nelson speaks to the vast impact that VFC and Heritage | MileOne have had in his personal and professional life.
