The Underriner Car Giveaway: Giving the Gift of Transportation
United Way of Yellowstone County partners with Underriner Motors each year to award a vehicle to a deserving recipient in Yellowstone County. Thanks to the generosity of UWYC Alpine Donors Bill and Mary Underriner, as well as Underriner employees who donate their time to work on the vehicle, this gift helps eliminate barriers to success in Yellowstone County.
Having reliable transportation improves access to:
- Education: Kids have transportation outside of school busing or walking, and it makes it easier to get to post-secondary classes.
- Healthcare: It's easier to get to medical appointments, and people are more likely to make it to preventative appointments.
- Employment: Jobs farther away from home become a possibility, and it's easier to make it to work reliably.
- And so much more!
Each year, UWYC’s local non-profit partners are encouraged to submit nominations to UWYC for potential candidates in need of transportation. UWYC then reviews applications and recommends a number of candidates to receive a car. Underriner Motors employees make the final decision on the recipient and prepare a car for the family.
2024 Recipient
Gabby Orozco got a van on Dec. 18.
It was through Underriner Motor's annual car giveaway. Employees donated their time to work on a used car in the Underriner fleet that the company then donates to a deserving local recipient in partnership with UWYC.
But really, Gabby has been earning the 2008 Honda Odyssey for years.
She came to Billings in 2022, having moved away after growing up here, a single mom of four kids. She lived out of her car for months before getting into Family Promise of Yellowstone County's shelter program.
"All the goals they asked her to do, she hit 'em," said Michelle Downey, a Family Promise social worker who worked with Gabby. "You don't see that a lot."
Savings? Gabby got a job and saved for permanent housing costs while paying off old debts. Check.
Housing? She got into stable housing and has covered her own housing costs for almost two years now. Check.
Education? She earned her GED in February and is taking college prep courses. Check.
Having a reliable vehicle will help her build on that success.
“Efficient, safe, and affordable transportation is crucial to not only a family’s financial success through employment, but their ability to be part of our community and have access to essential life-shaping opportunities that enable people to improve their living conditions and escape poverty," said Blake Underriner, Managing Partner at Underriner Motors.
Put simply: "This is just a real life changing gift," Michelle said.
It will make it easier for Orozco's kids to participate in after school activities, for Orozco to attend college classes, to get groceries on snowy days and go to the pool on hot ones. It's a leg-up for someone whose journey has been one of perseverance. It will open up new roads.
Single, Working Mother Receives the Gift of Transportation through Underriner Motors Car Giveaway
One local family received the gift of transportation this holiday season thanks to the Underriner Motors Car Giveaway, a partnership between Underriner Motors and United Way of Yellowstone County, on December 20 at 10 am.
Thanks to Tocqueville Society donors Bill and Mary Underriner and Underriner Motors employees, Mady and her family, received a Honda Odyssey for Christmas. Mady is a single mother of two children, one whom was diagnosed with Meningitis at 3 months old.
The medical bills alone have made it impossible for Mady to afford a down payment on a vehicle. She has two jobs, working 12-hour graveyard shifts as a CNA 6-7 days a week. Mady is also caring for her nephew and sister who is out of work due to a high-risk pregnancy. With having so many people dependent on her, a demanding work schedule and an unreliable vehicle, the stress is beginning to cause health issues for Mady. Having a reliable vehicle will provide a quick way to the hospital eliminating the long wait time and unmanageable expense of an ambulance from Lockwood. It will also help eliminate some of the stress by providing a permanent mode of transportation to get her to and from work and doctor appointments without having to rely on others.
The vehicle is the seventh such gift the Underriner Motors stores have given away. “Transportation is viewed as a key deterrent to financial stability among many of our community members,” according to United Way of Yellowstone County’s President/CEO Carol A. Burton. “Working with community partners and donors such as Underriner Motors in our community just makes sense and provides a much-needed relief for families once it’s provided, “she added.
United Way’s local non-profit partners were encouraged to submit nominations to United Way for potential candidates in need of transportation. United Way then reviewed the applications for completeness and recommended a number of candidates to receive a car. Underriner Motors employees made the final decision on the recipient and prepared a car for the family.