HOUSTON, July 9, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Petra Automotive Products is proud to announce the
first anniversary of Petra Cares, their non-profit initiative.
Celebrating this milestone, Petra Cares has successfully graduated
34 young adults (71% of the program participants), with 82% of them
either continuing their education or securing technician jobs
across the Houston area at
prestigious establishments such as Fred Haas Toyota Country, North
Houston Hyundai, Milstead Automotive, Kramer Autoplex, My Mechanic, Brazelton Automotive, One Stop
Shop, Firestone Tire, Discount Tire, and Parkway Chevrolet.
"We don't just see the difficult journey these youths are on –
we see their resilience, and their potential for greatness. We are
not just offering skills; we are empowering them to rewrite their
own story. We are creating real-life change, one opportunity at a
time, changing generations to come," said Brian Meza, Executive Director of Petra
Cares.
Petra Cares is dedicated to supporting young adults aging out of
foster care by providing them with comprehensive job training and
placement in the auto repair industry. Each year, hundreds of
youths age out of the foster care system in Houston, facing bleak prospects such as
homelessness, incarceration, and extreme poverty.
To address these challenges, Petra Cares offers free auto
mechanic training, job placement, transportation, tools, and books.
The program includes a seven-week course that not only covers
technical skills but also life skills, ensuring these young adults
are well-equipped for success. Upon completion, graduates are
matched with employers through Petra Automotive Products' extensive
network of car dealerships and repair shops.
"Young adults who have never been told, I love you, or I care
are being changed by this program. Through the education and job
placement it provides, their lives are being changed, which means
generations to come are being changed, and in turn the face and
look of America is being changed," said Arnold J Gacita, Founder of
Petra Cares. "But most importantly, these things are being changed
because we care and we love them. That is the main and most
important difference. We care."
Looking ahead, Petra Cares aims to expand its impact, targeting
75 students in Houston and 50
students in Los Angeles, with five
cohorts per year and an average of 10 students per cohort.
In a recent ceremony at Lone
Star College, Petra Cares celebrated the graduation of 15
students from their most recent class, who received certificates
from School President Dr. Virginia
Freire, the guest speaker for the evening. This marked the
culmination of two Spring cohorts. The next cohort begins on
June 3rd and concludes on
July 18th, with a summer graduation
ceremony scheduled for July 19th.
Those interested in finding out more about Petra Cares can visit
https://petra-cares.org for additional information and the
option to contribute to support and empower youth in the
program.
About Petra Cares:
Established in 2021, Petra Cares is
the charitable arm of Petra Automotive Products, Inc. The
organization's mission is "unlocking purpose for the vulnerable" by
removing barriers to education and empowerment for parentless and
parenting young adults. For more information, please visit
petra-cares.org.
Media Contact:
Laurie
Halter
Charisma! Communications
379968@email4pr.com
503-816-2474
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SOURCE Petra Cares