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Second Chance Cars and Minuteman High School Students Provide Ariyana with Life-Changing Transportation

Lexington, MA—December 3, 2024—Ariyana, a 19-year-old freshman at Regis College, is on the road to greater independence and opportunity thanks to a partnership between Second Chance Cars, Minuteman High School’s Automotive Technology program, and the generosity of car donor Michael Curley of Northborough.

Ariyana is pursuing her dream of becoming an elementary school teacher while working as a Group Team Leader at the Concord Afterschool Program. However, the lack of reliable transportation has challenged balancing college and work. Currently, her mother dedicates hours each week driving Ariyana from Weston to Concord for her shifts, all while managing a full-time job and caring for three other children.

The car, donated by Michael Curley and refurbished by juniors and seniors in Minuteman High School’s Automotive Technology program, will allow Ariyana to increase her work hours dramatically. With reliable transportation, she will go from working 6 hours a week to 24 hours, boosting her monthly income by $1,500. Ariyana also plans to take a second job on weekends to help cover her college expenses.

The vehicle’s refurbishment was handled by Minuteman’s talented Automotive Technology students, who gained valuable real-world experience while contributing to a life-changing community initiative. This collaboration highlights the meaningful impact of vocational education in solving real-world challenges.

Second Chance Cars, a Concord-based nonprofit, provides reliable, affordable vehicles to individuals like Ariyana, helping them overcome transportation barriers and achieve their goals. “This car will not only help me support myself and my education, but it will also reduce the burden on my mom, who sacrifices so much to help me get to work and school,” Ariyana shared in her application.

The reveal of Ariyana receiving the car at Minuteman is featured in a video produced by Second Chance Cars, which can be viewed here.

To learn more about Second Chance Cars and how to support their mission, visit https://secondchancecars.org.