Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
November 11, 2025
MileOne & Vehicles for Change Award Cars to Veterans for Independence
TLDR
- Heritage MileOne Autogroup gains community goodwill and brand visibility through its fifth annual vehicle donation partnership with Vehicles for Change, enhancing corporate reputation.
- Heritage MileOne Autogroup and Vehicles for Change donated 10 vehicles to veterans through a structured program that includes application screening and vehicle preparation processes.
- This initiative provides veterans with reliable transportation, enabling job opportunities, family reconnection, and renewed independence while supporting workforce development programs.
- Marine Corps veteran Daniel Ray Whiteaker now reconnects with his daughters in Virginia thanks to his new vehicle from this veteran empowerment program.
Impact - Why it Matters
Reliable transportation is a critical factor in economic mobility and family stability, particularly for veterans transitioning to civilian life. Many veterans face significant barriers to employment, healthcare access, and family connections without dependable vehicles. This initiative directly addresses the transportation gap that often prevents veterans from securing jobs, attending medical appointments, and maintaining family relationships. The program's impact extends beyond the immediate recipients by supporting workforce development through VFC's training program and creating a model for corporate social responsibility that other companies can emulate. For communities, reducing transportation barriers means more employed residents, stronger family units, and better utilization of veteran skills and experience in the local economy.
Summary
Heritage | MileOne Autogroup and nonprofit partner Vehicles for Change (VFC) celebrated their fifth annual Veterans Day event by presenting 10 vehicles to local veterans, providing life-changing transportation access and renewed independence. The ceremony featured remarks from Maryland Interim Secretary of Veterans Affairs Ed Rothstein, along with representatives from both organizations, and highlighted the story of Marine Corps veteran Daniel Ray Whiteaker of Cecil County, a father of two whose new vehicle enables him to pursue job opportunities and reconnect regularly with his daughters in Virginia. The event took place at Heritage Toyota Owings Mills, continuing a partnership that began in 2017 and has since awarded more than 230 vehicles valued at over $1.5 million to individuals and families overcoming transportation barriers.
Additional veteran recipients included Cory Mussenden of Baltimore County, an Army veteran and father of five who will now travel safely with his family; Sylvester Palmer of Anne Arundel County, an Army veteran caseworker whose daily six-hour commute will be reduced to just 20 minutes; Eugene Anthony of Cecil County, an Army veteran father of four gaining independence from public transit; Byron Branch of Baltimore City, a Navy veteran seeking stable employment and family connections; and Xavier Travers of Cecil County, a Navy veteran who views the vehicle as the final step in rebuilding his life after homelessness. The partnership 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 focused on transportation access and community impact across the Mid-Atlantic.
MileOne Autogroup, operating 66 franchises with 22 automotive brands across five states, launched MileOneCares in 2022 to coordinate its philanthropic efforts, including partnerships with DRIVE SMART for distracted driving programs and ShareBaby for car seat distribution. Vehicles for Change, established in 1999, has awarded more than 8,000 vehicles to over 28,000 individuals while operating the Full Circle Auto Repair and Training Center that combines virtual reality and hands-on mechanic training with employment placement. The organizations' continued collaboration demonstrates how corporate-nonprofit partnerships can create meaningful change for veterans and their families through reliable transportation solutions.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by Citybiz. Read the original source here, MileOne & Vehicles for Change Award Cars to Veterans for Independence
