WE HAVE A CAR GIVEAWAY WINNER!
Amanda Hamilton, of Katy, drives off into a future of nursing in her very own 2012 Ford Fusion SEL, the giveaway car of the 2018 Drive & Thrive Car Giveaway: Graduation Edition.
In a surprise presentation on May 31 , the Rabieh family, owners of Elite Auto Experts, and representatives of Cy-Hope, a local non-profit organization dedicated to the education and advancement of local youth, handed the keys of the giveaway vehicle to Amanda. The winner was chosen from among 20 entries submitted by Cy-Fair ISD graduating seniors who also participated in one of Cy-Hope's student programs. The giveaway car was purchased at auction by Elite Auto Experts and subsequently fully restored by the talented professionals at the Elite Auto Experts body shop.
WATCH THE VIDEO OF THE SURPRISE!
This fall, Amanda plans to enroll in the nursing program at Stephen F. Austin University. Her career choice, she said, was inspired by the kind and hard-working nurses who helped her mother battle breast cancer when Amanda was only 14 years old.
"Being so young I had no idea what cancer was or how it was going to take a toll on my mom, but these nurses sat me down and explained everything I needed to know and ensured my mom was going to beat cancer," Amanda wrote in her essay submission. "The moment I will never forget was when the nurses said my mom gets to ring the victory bell. She had beat cancer, had a successful surgery and was on her way to recovery."
The nurses by her mother's side, she said, left a lasting impression.
"My mom's journey had been long and hard but the nurses we were lucky enough to have with us truly made us feel that they cared about my mom," Amanda said. "Ever since then I've wanted to give back and care for someone just like my mom."
In addition to working a part-time job while finishing high school, Amanda also jumped on the opportunity to apply for scholarships and take college-level classes through Cy-Hope.
"I was fortunate enough to take college level classes in high school. By taking them early I was able to save a lot of money before I do go off to college," she said, explaining that medical bills are still stretching the family's budget considerably. "I am grateful I had the opportunity to test and get college credits before my parents start helping me pay for college and nursing school."
Congratulations, Amanda! We wish you all the best for your future endeavors. Here's to your success!
About Elite Auto Experts
We are a family-owned, family-operated automotive repair business located in northwest Houston. Earlier this year, we moved to a new location (just next door to our longtime home!) and added paint and body repair services to our list of offerings in an effort to deliver a complete tool chest of services for your vehicle. We pride ourselves on first-rate, honest service provided by top-of-the-line technicians. Car giveaways to deserving members of the community, support of toy and back-to-school drives, and other charitable contributions are part of our culture at Elite Auto Experts. This is the third Drive & Thrive Car Giveaway since we launched the program in the summer of 2017.
About Cy-Hope
Cy-Hope's mission is to make life better for all kids in our community. Cy-Hope serves as a catalyst to bring needs and solutions together by mobilizing the entire Cy-Fair community to provide opportunities for all students to succeed in life. We are helping students grow to be well-educated and productive citizens by offering hope for a brighter future! Our Providing Opportunities Program "POP" is just one of our many programs we have available to help accomplish our mission. For more information, please visit us at www.cy-hope.org.