Petra Cares Celebrates First Anniversary with Significant Milestones

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
[email protected]
503-816-2474

SOURCE Petra Cares