Cars for Kids Giveaway
Previous Winners
As a Friend in Reed we’d like to thank you for casting your vote for some of the most deserving young adults in Central Florida. Our annual Cars for Kids Giveaway was a great success and we’re proud to work with Embrace Families to help promote the health, education, and well-being of the more than 8,000 children and youth that came through the foster care system or endured homelessness with their families in the past year alone.
We celebrate the perseverance and spirit of these two deserving young adults and were proud to present them with new vehicles in this annual giveaway! Here’s a little bit about each of our winners and, although this year’s giveaway is complete, we invite you to find out what you can do to help the thousands of other families and young people who could benefit from your support!
2018 Cars for Kids Giveaway Winners
And the winners are…
Claudia
Claudia’s childhood, like those of many we meet through Community Based Care, had a rough beginning. Assuming the role of being her own caregiver at the young age of 12, Claudia has overcome great hardship and pain, and has emerged as a bright, caring, responsible, passionate young woman. Determined not to let the past dictate her future, she relied on no one but herself for transportation, by bicycle, to and from her job at Panera Bread. We at Reed Nissan were proud to offer her a vehicle and the added freedom of time to pursue her next opportunities.
Justin
Our second Cars For Kids recipient, Justin, is currently a part-time student who also works part time to put himself through school. Having already achieved part of his goal, he completed his undergraduate degree and is currently working on his MBA in business marketing. Having grown up in the foster care system, Justin feels it is his opportunity to pay it forward by working with other foster youth and ultimately aspires to start up his own foster home. Proud to be a Cars For Kids Giveaway representative, Justin, in addition to using his new vehicle to continue his education, hopes to also use his new car to provide outings, support and opportunities to foster youth like himself.
Orlando Sentinel – “Coffee with George:” From foster child to beacon of hope to others lost in system of despair
CONGRATULATIONS CLAUDIA AND JUSTIN!
2017 Cars for Kids Giveaway Winners
There were happy tears and resounding cheers when the names of two lucky winners were announced during the 2017 Friend in Reed Cars for Kids Giveaway. For the 3rd year, Reed Nissan donated new cars to two Central Florida young adults who have come through the foster care system. Lack of transportation to school and work is one of the largest barriers preventing our youth from achieving success.
And the winners are…
Anthony
Anthony is a full-time, year-round student at Valencia College. He works all hours available with a temp agency. With the arrival of his first child expected in the coming weeks, he is fully occupied with preparing to support mother and baby.
“With this car, I can take my child and girlfriend safely to where they must go, including doctor visits and daycare. It will also keep me more focused on my studies, and I won’t have to worry so much about how to get around.”
Nicole
Nicole is a full-time student at University of Central Florida (UCF) majoring in Biomedical Science with plans to attend medical school. She works for an agency that provides personal care services to people with special needs. Nicole is active in several medical clubs at UCF.
“Driving a reliable car from Reed Nissan gives me the peace of mind to know I can finish school without worrying about constant expenses from a car with almost 200,000 miles on it.”
CONGRATULATIONS ANTHONY AND NICOLE!
How can you help?
- Become a MENTOR. Your support and influence as a role model for a child, teen or young adult provides an invaluable foundation to keep him or her moving forward to a future full of promise.
- FOSTER PARENTING gives you the opportunity to provide a stable home for young people with oftentimes challenging backgrounds and experiences. With your assistance, they can prevail through these life-altering experiences with strength and pride.
- ADOPTION gives you the most rewarding opportunity to build a safe, loving home for a youth in need of a forever family.
- Your FINANCIAL SUPPORT helps protect and remove vulnerable children from unsafe circumstances, and helps foster youth transition into adulthood with the tools, training and self-determined independence to become valued citizens in our communities.
2016 Cars for Kids Giveaway
On August 23, 2016, two new deserving individuals who have come through the foster system received cars from Reed Nissan. The dealership once again donated two new Nissan vehicles to a pair of deserving students through their 2nd annual “Cars for Kids Giveaway.” The brand-new 2016 Nissan Sentras, including paid taxes, were given away to two students who are currently part of the foster care system in Central Florida. Two women received the surprising good news: Amelia, 21, is a single mother of two. In addition to being a part-time student, she also works as a preschool teacher. Without family nearby to rely upon and an unreliable vehicle, getting to work and class on time has been difficult. This new car will help keep her family safe, while allowing Amelia to continue to make a better life for herself and her two sons. Melissa, 21, is currently a student at Palm Beach State College studying early childhood education. With no family nearby, Melissa was forced to rely on friends and public transit to get around – a constant challenge to get to class and work on time because of often spotty bus service. After missing many classes and work shifts, and her education and employment were put in jeopardy, she was pressured into purchasing a car with a predatory loan rate of 24%. Having a new car will free Melissa from crushing debt and stress and allow her to focus on completing her education while affording her basic needs. “Our work with Community Based Care is incredibly important to us, and we again wanted to focus on the region’s foster care system,” says Reed Nissan general manager Aaron Hill. “Owning a car could mean pursuing additional academic study, obtaining desirable employment or performing public service. We hope it helps these two deserving young people move onto the next chapter of their lives, wherever that may be.”