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What's New
Harry Gandre Remembered
Rides 4 Refugees is saddened by the sudden passing of our friend and colleague Harry Gandre last weekend following an accident. Harry was an invaluable member of our team. The thoughts and prayers of the entire Rides 4 Refugees team go out to his wife Evelyn and his family.
MSR Hosts Fundraiser
The atmosphere at Mike Shank's Meyer Shank Racing shop was electric as guests gathered for a tour and catered dinner. It was a truly remarkable event, made even more special by the generosity of our fundraiser attendees, whose contributions will help provide transportation support to four deserving families. The evening culminated in a successful auction featuring items generously donated by MSR and the Transportation Research Center, further bolstering our efforts to support refugees in central Ohio.
All Smiles
Rides 4 Refugees is delighted to have facilitated the purchase of vehicles for Ramish and Fawad, former interpreters for American troops in Afghanistan. R4R assisted Fawad and his family in acquiring a dependable Ford Edge. R4R is equally thrilled to have supported Ramish and his family in their journey to rebuild their lives in America with a new car. "I truly appreciate everything you have done for us. My family and I will never forget this," said Fawad.
Exciting Year Ahead
Following a successful first year, Rides 4 Refugees has its sites set on growing its support for Central Ohio refugees in 2024.
This year, we are planning to support 15 refugees with the purchase of good, used vehicles. That's a 50-percent increase over 2023. Additionally, we will be recruiting volunteers and interns, searching for donated vehicles, and applying for grants. We are also making plans to hire a future Executive Director later in the year as we transition away from an all-volunteer organization.
This year, we are planning to support 15 refugees with the purchase of good, used vehicles. That's a 50-percent increase over 2023. Additionally, we will be recruiting volunteers and interns, searching for donated vehicles, and applying for grants. We are also making plans to hire a future Executive Director later in the year as we transition away from an all-volunteer organization.
New Car Brings Joy
Rides 4 Refugees was able to make Muhannad Salama's holiday season a time of happiness when it helped him with a purchase of a GMC Terrain from Honda Marysville. Here is a short message from Muhannad after taking his vehicle home for the first time.
"I don't know what I would tell you if you saw my family's joy in this car. It is equivalent to the world and everything in it. They were very happy, and they all thank you for what you are doing with us. I hope that one day I will return this favor to you."
"I don't know what I would tell you if you saw my family's joy in this car. It is equivalent to the world and everything in it. They were very happy, and they all thank you for what you are doing with us. I hope that one day I will return this favor to you."
MITR Supports R4R
Rides 4 Refugees is delighted to express our heartfelt gratitude for being selected as a beneficiary of the Short North Rotary's annual fundraising Music in the Round event on March 2nd. This sold-out affair showcased the talents of four local musicians who generously shared their music while also shedding light on the five chosen nonprofits, including R4R. We are humbled and immensely grateful to announce that R4R received a donation of $2,979 from this event.
New Board Members
Founding Director Marc Dinopoulos retired from the Board of Directors at the Annual Board Meeting on January 24. New Directors installed at the meeting include Katie Arbeiter, Michael Cao, and R4R member Ted Klaus. Officers include Erik Berkman (President), Kristen Everman (Treasurer), and Jim Fusco (Secretary).
Ali Safari Gets His Car
Ali Safari is an Afghan refugee, and an electrical engineer, who arrived in the U.S. in March 2023. Based on his support for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, he was threatened and then targeted by a bomb when in Afghanistan. Fortunately, he was not seriously injured. R4R provided Ali with matching funds and vehicle search support. Also, a limited 1-year warranty covering mechanical/electrical problems as well as roadside assistance. He recently got his Ohio Driver's License and is excited to have his own personal vehicle to be able to get his job, and his English as a Second Language (ESL) class without relying on others.
American Ally Fund Donation
Sayre Payne and Matt Dresbach had the honor of working with Afghanistan interpreters during a time of war. Because of this close bond, Dresbach of Chillicothe and Payne of Cincinnati developed the American Ally Rescue and Relief Fund to help interpreters gain a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) in return for their support of the U.S. and its military operations in Afghanistan. The two gentlemen recently presented R4R with more than $20,000 in an effort to help provide more reliable transportation to the central Ohio refugee population.
New Car = Big Savings
Rides 4 Refugees is proud to support Abdul with his first car purchase in the U.S. Abdul is a recent refugee who had been using Uber and Lyft for transportation and his weekly transportation costs averaged $400. This made the need for a new transportation solution even more important. Using our developed process, R4R's Harry Gandre assisted Abdul through the search and purchase process. As a result, Abdul, our 16th client, was able to locate a used Honda Accord at Roush Honda in Westerville.
First Vehicle Donation
Rides 4 Refugees is very grateful to receive its first vehicle donation to be used to help refugees. We were fortunate to receive a 2010 Toyota Prius in great condition, which will be used in our driver training program. A big thank you to Clay and Gaby Steele for their kind donation.
Remember, Rides 4 Refugees will make every effort to utilize donated vehicles directly in our Central Ohio programs.
Remember, Rides 4 Refugees will make every effort to utilize donated vehicles directly in our Central Ohio programs.
Reliable Car Heads to College
Shokria Muhandis got her drivers license with help from her friends at Indian Run UMC. Community Refugee and Immigration Services referred her to Rides 4 Refugees for our vehicle match grant program. She saved money and Honda Marysville found her a solid 2016 Buick Verano in her price range. Shokria will go back to college this fall and drive her new car to Minnesota to pursue a career in computer science.
Hard Work Pays Off
Abdul Tokhi worked hard to save for his car. After getting his drivers license, we worked with him to determine his needs for a vehicle. We want to thank Honda Marysville for finding the right car for Abdul and a lender that would make a loan and allow him to get a better car. Abdul will make reasonable payments and establish a credit history.
Family's Dreams Come True
Rides 4 Refugees helped Shekib with his vehicle search and purchase. This vehicle will allow Shekib, his elder son and his wife better manage their daily needs to and from work. Honda Marysville was extremely helpful in locating a used Honda minivan within their budget. This provides reliable transportation for their commuting and family activities.
Repair Assistance
Abdul Hamidi was the inspiration for Rides 4 Refugees. His work as a Civil Engineer requires reliable transportation. After getting his latest car, he had a breakdown out-of-town, requiring it to be towed home. We worked with him and our partner, Henry Street Garage & Machine Shop, to make repairs. We split the cost with Abdul and suggested he save more money to get a better vehicle before he experiences more unexpected repair expenses.
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