RTS Donates Two Cars to “Vehicles for Change” in Celebration of Their 25th Anniversary
As a proud and active member of the Baltimore County community, RTS is honored to be able to support Vehicles for Change (VFC), one of its favorite local charities. In celebration of VFC’s 25th Anniversary, RTS donated two cars to assist this life-changing organization in its mission to eliminate poverty through car ownership and workforce development.
A one-of-a-kind charitable organization, Vehicles for Change has awarded over 8,000 cars to low-income families since 1999. But they also stand out by empowering financially challenged families through their vocational training program, the Full Circle Auto Training Center. Lori Connolly, Marketing and Communications Director at VFC emphasizes this unique and innovative initiative, “We train individuals, including many who were recently incarcerated, to become technicians, not just through hands-on training, but also through our virtual garage. By partnering with HTX Labs, we were able to build a series of courses using Oculus headsets where our students can get under the hood and learn on a variety of cars to really get a thorough education. In fact, many organizations that go on to hire our graduates say these are some of the best technicians they have.” Connolly describes.
RTS chose to donate after seeing the immeasurable impact VFC has made in the community. As Connolly describes, “This is a really special place. For many people, getting a car means they can now support their families or get to work. And when graduates finish our program, not only do they leave our training with at least three Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certifications, but they also learn financial literacy, get mental health support, learn how to apply for apartments; basically, all the skills they need to become a productive member of society and get a second chance at life. In my time here, I’ve just seen some really heartfelt moments.”
RTS’s donation of two vehicles also comes at a crucial time for VFC, which has seen a decrease in donations due to the pandemic. “Pre-COVID, we received around 200 vehicle donations monthly. Now, that number has fallen to 60-80,” says Connolly. “These vehicles are lifelines for families in need, enabling access to jobs, educational opportunities, and better food.”
To celebrate their 25 years, VFC is also inviting the community to support their cause at their upcoming “Custom Cars, Cocktails, and Change” gala on October 26th at the B&O Railroad Museum. This wild and fun masquerade-themed gala will feature live music, auctions, and classic car displays. “In honor of our 25th year, we will also be awarding four vehicles to deserving families,” shares Connolly. “It’s going to be our biggest and best gala yet.”
For those interested in contributing, sponsorship opportunities for the gala are available here.
Have a vehicle you might be willing to donate? You can learn how here. Every donation helps VFC provide transportation solutions to individuals and families across Maryland. And many donors are also able to claim the full fair market value of their cars as their deduction if the car is given to a family.
Or to just learn more about this incredible organization, visit Vehicles for Change’s website.