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Fixing Cars, Changing Lives

Building and supporting a network of top independent auto repair shops that provide transportation solutions to individuals & families in temporary need through repairs, maintenance, and education, while promoting self-sufficiency and good habits.

Driving Change Through Community-Focused Automotive Care

Transportation Matters was founded by American Pride Automotive (APA) with the same mission-driven DNA. In 2008, when APA opened its second location, we began offering free automotive repairs to single parents, building trust within the community. This initiative grew into Transportation Matters, partnering with independent repair shops to provide essential repairs and education to families in temporary need.

Our goal is to support self-sufficiency, helping people avoid financial pitfalls by keeping their vehicles running, while fostering good habits through maintenance and education.  We are here to help, offering lasting, positive change.

Our Mission

Connecting Independent Shops to Provide Transportation Solutions and Support

At Transportation Matters, we partner exclusively with independently owned automotive repair shops, giving them the opportunity to become more relevant within their communities at no cost. We’re a platform for doing good, allowing these shops to showcase their values while providing essential automotive solutions.

We serve individuals and families who are in a temporary period of need, focusing on those doing everything right but who are teetering on the edge of financial instability. Our goal is to prevent a single breakdown from pushing them into financial hardship. Unlike welfare programs, we offer a temporary safety net, protecting individuals from needing long-term assistance.

Our support is comprehensive, providing repairs, maintenance, and education to help avoid costly breakdowns. By encouraging preventative care and good habits, we extend our resources to help more families. We’re here to promote self-sufficiency, helping people stay on their feet during tough times while empowering them to take control of their situation. Ultimately, we aim for those we help to no longer need our assistance and perhaps return to support others in need.

Our Journey

From Family Service Day to Transportation Matters

A Commitment to Community and Service

Transportation Matters was born from a simple yet powerful idea at American Pride Automotive (APA). In 2008, when APA opened its second location, we knew that gaining the community’s trust was essential. Reflecting on ways to make a meaningful impact, we decided to open our doors to single parents, offering free automotive repairs and maintenance. This effort, initially without a formal name, became Family Service Day. It was a small initiative that quickly resonated with the community, and as APA grew, so did the identity of being the shop that cared for single-parent families.

From Family Service Day to Transportation Matters

Family Service Day gained momentum, earning national recognition and a sponsorship from Advance Auto Parts. This partnership allowed us to expand our reach, helping educate and encourage a network of TechNet shops to host their own days of service. Over two years, we served over a thousand families, providing more than $1,000,000 in repairs and maintenance. However, despite the success, the challenges of working with a large corporation led to the end of the sponsorship.

Determined to keep the mission alive, we reinvented and rebranded Family Service Day as Transportation Matters. We recognized that for those in need, car breakdowns don’t wait for quarterly service events—they happen every day. To truly make an impact, we needed to offer help during the workweek, providing the same high-quality service we give to all of our customers. TM was designed to be a safety net for those facing temporary hardship, helping them stay self-sufficient.

Building a Nationwide Network: Expanding TM's Mission and Impact

With the leadership of Jarret Haan, we traveled the country selling TM memberships to independent repair shops, sharing our mission and building a network of like-minded businesses. Transportation Matters has evolved, but its core remains the same: providing essential automotive repairs, maintenance, and education to families in need, all while supporting independently owned repair shops in making a positive impact in their communities.

Support Our Mission

Your Donations Keep Families on the Road to Self-Sufficiency

At Transportation Matters, we’ve remained steadfast in our commitment to helping families in need, self-funding the program to refine our message and process. Now, as we continue to grow our network of independently owned automotive repair shops, we are ready to invite the public to join us in making an impact.

Your donations will allow us to expand our efforts and provide essential automotive repairs, maintenance, and education to those in temporary need, helping them maintain their self-sufficiency.

In November 2023, we achieved 501c3 non-profit status, making all donations tax-deductible and allowing us to accept both financial contributions and vehicle donations. Every donation directly supports our mission, ensuring we continue to drive positive change and protect individuals from financial instability.

Together, we can make a lasting difference in the lives of those on the edge, empowering them to keep moving forward.

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