MileOne Autogroup and Vehicles for Change Award Vehicles to Veterans in Fifth Annual Partnership
MileOne Autogroup and Vehicles for Change provided 10 vehicles to veterans during their fifth annual Veterans Day event, addressing transportation barriers that impact employment, family connections, and independence for military veterans.
Heritage | MileOne Autogroup and nonprofit partner Vehicles for Change marked their fifth annual Veterans Day collaboration by presenting 10 vehicles to local veterans, continuing a partnership that has transformed lives through reliable transportation since 2017. The event featured Maryland Interim Secretary of Veterans Affairs Ed Rothstein alongside representatives from both organizations and vehicle recipients, highlighting how access to transportation creates pathways to employment, family stability, and renewed independence for those who served.
Since the partnership began, MileOne Autogroup and Vehicles for Change have awarded more than 230 vehicles valued at over $1.5 million to individuals and families overcoming transportation barriers. The collaboration also supports VFC's Full Circle Auto Training Program, which provides reentry and workforce development opportunities for justice-involved and underemployed individuals. Through MileOneCares, MileOne Autogroup's corporate giving initiative, the company invests in programs that expand transportation access and create long-term community impact across the Mid-Atlantic region. More information about their philanthropic efforts can be found at https://www.mileonecares.com.
Recipient Daniel Ray Whiteaker, a Marine Corps veteran and father of two from Cecil County, explained how his new vehicle enables him to pursue job opportunities and reconnect regularly with his daughters in Virginia. Other veterans receiving vehicles included Cory Mussenden, an Army veteran and father of five from Baltimore County, whose family will now travel safely and spend more time together; Sylvester Palmer, an Army veteran caseworker from Anne Arundel County who currently commutes six hours daily but will now reduce that to just 20 minutes; Eugene Anthony, an Army veteran and father of four from Cecil County gaining independence after years relying on public transit; Byron Branch, a Navy veteran from Baltimore City securing stable employment and rebuilding family connections across state lines; and Xavier Travers, a Navy veteran from Cecil County who sees the vehicle as the final step toward rebuilding his life after overcoming homelessness.
Vehicles for Change has awarded more than 8,000 vehicles since 1999, empowering over 28,000 individuals to achieve economic and personal independence. Through their Full Circle Auto Repair and Training Center, the organization trains justice-involved and unemployed individuals to become automotive mechanics using virtual reality and hands-on training, then places them in meaningful employment opportunities. Additional information about Vehicles for Change is available at https://www.vehiclesforchange.org. The event took place at Heritage Toyota Owings Mills, continuing MileOne Autogroup's commitment to serving communities where its employees work and live across Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Delaware, and North Carolina.