DETROIT—Vehicles for Change Detroit, a nonprofit organization that addresses transportation issues, received a grant of $135,000 from the Margaret Dunning Foundation to expand their Full Circle Auto Repair and Training Center in Detroit (Full Circle Detroit). The grant will support more people in the automotive training program that provides unemployed and underemployed Detroiters the opportunity to receive paid training and hands-on experience.
Full Circle Detroit also offers the local community discounted automotive services. The garage is open to the public and serviced by program trainees under supervision of master mechanics with the goal of transitioning them to unsubsidized employment. Funds generated from the social enterprise help support their mission to empower families with financial challenges to achieve economic and personal independence through car ownership and technical training.
VFC Detroit is a subsidiary of Vehicles for Change, Inc., which has been operating in Baltimore, Maryland since 1999. Vehicles for Change President Martin Schwartz shared, “We are thrilled to receive this grant from the Margaret Dunning Foundation and look forward to furthering our impact on Detroit.”
About Vehicles for Change
Vehicles for Change (VFC) is a nonprofit that accepts and repairs donated cars and awards them to low-income families, enabling them to become self-sufficient. VFC car donors gain a substantial tax advantage that’s not available with most other charities. For additional information or to donate a vehicle, visit www.vehiclesforchange.org.
About the Margaret Dunning Foundation
The Margaret Dunning Foundation was founded by Ms. Dunning in 1997. She was born in 1910 in Redford Township, Michigan and moved with her mother to Plymouth, Michigan in the 1920’s. During her lifetime Ms. Dunning was a successful business woman, philanthropist, and civic booster. She was a major supporter of many Plymouth nonprofits, including the Plymouth District Library and the Plymouth Historical Society. In addition to her personal philanthropy, Ms. Dunning was a classic car enthusiast and was a regular participant in the Woodward Dream Cruise with her 1930 Packard 740 Roadster. Ms. Dunning died in 2013 at the age of 104. Her estate provided additional funding for the Margaret Dunning Foundation, which continues to support her charitable interests and legacy. For more information, visit www.margaretdunningfdn.org.
Contacts
Vehicles for Change Detroit
Murray Davis, 313-469-7491
Director of External Relations
mdavis@vehiclesforchange.org