For many, hopping into the car and driving to a desired destination is an easy, everyday task. However, for homeless youth, getting to school, a job, the DMV or simply meeting friends is a challenge.
Transportation is just one of the many services Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth (NPHY) provides for its youth clients. Now it will be easier with the donation of a 2015 Chevy ES 15-passenger van from Findlay Cadillac and Findlay Honda Henderson to the nonprofit organization.
“Providing transportation solutions is what we do, so helping Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth with the transport needs for youth clients is a perfect fit,” said John Saksa, Findlay Cadillac general manager.
“We recently worked on an event with Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth and learned about their needs for the wonderful work they do for homeless kids and are so happy to help them with the donation of this van,” added Scott Ramer, Findlay Honda Henderson general manager.
Being able to easily transport groups of homeless youth has always been cumbersome for NPHY because of limited capacity where existing and aging NPHY cars only meant for a few passengers require multiple staff members to drive or a single staff member to make multiple trips. With the new Findlay van, NPHY staff now will be able to transport almost all clients in its Independent Living Program at one time. These trips include travel to the DMV, UNLV, educational field trips, and other activities away from its Drop-In Center, the hub for many of NPHY’s services including intake processing, tutoring, counseling, extracurricular classes, life skills, legal services, recreational activities, and more.
“We’re extremely grateful for the generosity of Findlay Cadillac and Findlay Honda Henderson and their recognition of our needs,” said Arash Ghafoori, executive director of NPHY. “The new van will provide our staff and youth clients with a reduction in transport driving and wait times and a more expedient and better overall experience for the necessary trips and education and recreational programs.”
The multi-passenger Chevy van is valued at $26,000. In addition, Findlay has donated getting the van wrapped in NPHY colors – gold and purple – with the NPHY website, contact information and Safe Place logo. This information will help generate awareness about NPHY and provide youth in need with another touchpoint for contact information. The Safe Place Program, operated by NPHY since 2002, provides immediate help and safety to all youth in crisis by offering safe place sites at any Terrible Herbst Gas Station, Las Vegas City Fire Station and free bus transportation provided by the Regional Transportation Center to the locations identified by the Safe Place logo.
About Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth
Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth is the most comprehensive service provider for more than 11,000 homeless youth in Southern Nevada, serving hundreds of youth through its core programs and by touching the lives of thousands more through outreach each year. Programs stabilize homeless teens’ lives, meeting their immediate needs and providing a safe, supportive environment and a path to self-sufficiency. They include: Outreach, Safe Place Mobile Crisis Intervention, Operation Go Home Family Reunification, Drop-In Center, Emergency Shelter, and Independent Living Program. For information and to support NPHY’s critical work to get homeless youth off the streets, visit www.nphy.org or follow NPHY on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/nevadapartnershipforhomelessyouth.
About Findlay
Findlay Honda Henderson and Findlay Cadillac are part of the Findlay Automotive Group. Founded more than 50 years ago by the late Pete Findlay, whose son Cliff, now operates 28 automobile dealerships in Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Oregon and Idaho. Findlay Honda Henderson is situated at 933 Auto Show Drive and Findlay Cadillac 993 Auto Show Drive. Further information can be found by visiting them on the web at www.findlayhondahenderson.com 702-568-3500 or www.findlaycadillac.com 702-558-2600.