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Phoenix local receives free car after facing homelessness

Posted 6/20/23

Family Promise of Greater Phoenix, a nonprofit organization that serves families with children who are currently homeless or at risk of experiencing homelessness, has partnered with the National Auto …

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Donation

Phoenix local receives free car after facing homelessness

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Family Promise of Greater Phoenix, a nonprofit that serves families with children who are currently homeless or at risk of experiencing homelessness, has partnered with the National Auto Body Council and Painters Collision Center to present a Phoenix local with a 2020 Kia Sol donated by Geico.

Angelica Wells of Phoenix received the vehicle on June 8 at Family Promise of Greater Phoenix in Scottsdale.

Wells became a mother when she adopted her nephews (ages 7 and 8) after the passing of her sister, according to a press release.

To help take care of the children, Wells looked to her own mother for support. Then Wells’ mother passed away three years ago, which prompted her to move her family to Arizona in search of a more sustainable life. She ended up losing her job and her housing shortly after.

Hearing about Wells’ situation, Family Promise of Greater Phoenix welcomed her family into its program, the release stated. Through her perseverance under challenging situations, Wells impressed staff at Family Promise which led the nonprofit to choose her as the recipient of the vehicle giveaway.

“There’s nothing that gives my heart more joy than to see our families’ dreams come true,” CEO Ted Taylor said in the release. “I’m so proud of Angelica and she deserves what her family is receiving today. I also want to thank the people that made this donation possible. We are all about community solutions. Community is what this is all about and that is what changes the lives of families.”

The NABC Recycled Rides giveaway is made possible with community partners. The donated 2020 Kia Sol was previously been damaged and an insurance claim made to Geico. Rather than repairing and selling the car, Geico donated the vehicle to NABC, which was later fully repaired by Painters Collision Center, according to the release.

Once repaired, NABC looked to Family Promise to choose a recipient for the donation.

When presented with her new car, Enterprise Rent-A-Car also surprised Wells and her family with a $1,000 gas card so she could drive to work without the worry of filling up the gas tank.

“I remember feeling down and lost because I didn’t know what to do when we lost our housing,” Wells said in the release. “That’s when we got the call to come over to Family Promise. Family Promise has kept its promise. I appreciate everyone — Enterprise, Geico, Painters Collision Center, everybody. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Family Promise of Greater Phoenix aims to secure a sustainable and financially sound future for families experiencing homelessness — an issue that has grown 219% over the past three years in the Phoenix metro.