June 20, 2005

 Excitement filled the home of Lourdes Verea and Dr. Jorge Verea. Their  daughter Rebeka just graduated high school, so the family celebrated with a  small gathering at their New Jersey house. That evening, Rebeka and her  buddy took a break from the celebration. Like any other night, they hopped in  the car to  pick up a friend. Little did the Verea’s know, it was the last time they would see their daughter alive.

 The Clock Struck Midnight

 The Verea’s heard a knock at their front door. It came from two police officers  who delivered the devastating news no parent wants to hear. "The driver was  speeding through a 35 mph zone with Rebeka in his passenger seat,” said    Lourdes. “His car slammed into  a turning tractor- trailer. The roof of the car was  sheared off, killing Rebeka  instantly.”

 A Time to Remember

 Thousands attended Rebeka’s wake. Seeing so many people who cared for  their daughter gave the family hope. The Verea’s realized  Rebeka’s life had impacted so many people, and they knew…they must keep sharing her story.

 Days after the service, the family formed the Rebeka Verea Foundation.

“We aim to educate teenagers on the dangers of reckless driving,” said Lourdes. “Our slogan is, Say Yes to Life.”

12 Years Later

The Verea’s are still brought to tears when speaking about Rebeka, but they’re determined to remain positive, to celebrate her life and to appreciate the countless ways their daughter touched the lives of others. 

Every spring, with the support of State Farm, the Rebeka Verea Foundation hosts two educational symposiums in New Jersey – one for educators and one for students. The symposiums feature diverse speakers such as trauma surgeons, car crash victims and police officers.

Each speaker shares their wisdom and experiences with nearly 1,000 students and 500 educators.

Their mission? To educate.

Their goal? To prevent tragedy and promote safe driving.

While the topics are serious, the Foundation also allows time for a light-hearted celebration. The symposium, held in April (the month of Rebeka’s birthday), is a tribute to her life. The students dance, wave glow-sticks, and sing Happy Birthday to Rebeka.

The Work Continues

To keep raising safe driving awareness, a permanent speed machine is stationed at the crash site. A street near the local high school has been named Rebeka Verea Way and Rebeka’s photo and the Foundation logo is displayed on a city police car.Additionally, the Foundation’s annual gala collects money to support Project Graduation in high schools throughout two counties. The event, held on graduation night, is an alcohol and drug free celebration.

“The Foundation is an integral part of our daily lives,” says Lourdes. “Sadly, my daughter died, but we’re working hard to prevent others from experiencing a similar tragedy. We’re always celebrating my daughter’s life. I feel the Foundation is far-reaching and will live on beyond our lifetime.”

Elizabeth relied on friends and busses to get her children to school and herself to doctors' appointments. Every day was a battle.

In 2016 things started turning around. In the form of a 2012 sedan. The Gomez family became one of the more than1,000 families across the country who were handed keys to reliable transportation from the National Auto Body Council.

For nearly a decade, the National Auto Body Council's Recycled Rides program has provided reliable transportation to families in need. Nearly 300 cars were donated by the program in 2016 alone; 30 of the cars were donated by State Farm.

The Recycled Rides program brings together business partners in the auto industry such as insurers, auto body shops and dealerships with community organizations to identify families in need. Damaged cars are brought back to near showroom condition for their new owners.

Scout's Honor

Camping is an important part of being a Boy Scout -critical to learning and experiencing the great outdoors. The biggest challenge for the largest Boy Scout Troop in the world is just getting there.

In November 2015, the Recycled Rides program provided the troop much needed transportation. A 4x4 truck was delivered to Atlanta’s Boy Scout Troop 100. But they didn’t just fill it with firewood and tents, the troop delivered gifts and care packages to needy neighbors.

Connected by Good Neighbors from coast to coast

Jennifer Castro, a single mom from the Los Angeles area, recalls the day she was presented her car as a day she’ll never forget. In 2016, the single mom was presented the keys to a new Nissan Altima, but also a key to a better life for her and her daughter.

After moving to Dallas in 2012, following two deployments and an honorable discharge from the Army, Henry and Quisha Darcus were barely adjusting to their new metro area when a string of bad luck hit. On her second day at work, Quisha was in a crash and their car couldn't be repaired or replaced.

What made this crash more difficult, the couple's seven-year-old daughter has critical, regular medical appointments. The family needed a car. Fortunately, the Iraq War vet and his family were presented a new sedan to help them navigate Dallas and get their daughter the help she needs.

While many take transportation for granted, this program brings together businesses and community groups to provide vehicles to needy families. Together, they make helping a routine.

Hope can come in many forms.

In Albany, Oregon, hope may show up in your driveway as a twelve-passenger, 2003 Lincoln Towncar driven by a charismatic, passionate and caring local insurance agent.

By day, Mike Speten can be found double-checking his customers’ coverages or helping them recover from the unexpected. However, by night, he is a willing chauffeur of families and individuals facing personal challenges in their lives.

Mike’s drive for helping his community is guided by more than a GPS. It is fueled by a combination of faith, positivity and an unwavering passion to assist.

Blessing others with a night out on the town

In March 2014, Mike and fellow insurance agent, Ron Brockman formed the nonprofit H.O.P.E. Albany. Typically the two are business competitors, but not in this effort. Together, their mission is to find people struggling. They then provide respite from illness, job worries, or a brush with tragedy by gifting folks a night on the town.

Focus on Community.

“A majority of my conversations with members of the community were about the negative things going on in the media. Crime, poverty, problems in schools, and family struggle were all reoccurring headlines in our community news. It weighs heavy on our hearts and minds,” says Speten.

H.O.P.E. Albany’s mission was born from the recognition of those challenges and takes action to help those in the community facing them.

Leads on who might need some H.O.P.E. come from the community. The organization is not only looking to help families with financial barriers, they look for where offering the gift of time together with family and friends can inspire hope. They then utilize the talent, resources, and goodwill of the community to make a special memory happen.

"Families and individuals facing challenges in life sometimes need a short break from it all which is exactly what H.O.P.E. Albany provides…along with a little bit of style and pampering,” says Speten.

The "P” in the organization’s name represents how these special occasions are realized. Partnering with local businesses and individuals is essential to success. H.O.P.E Albany’s partners - local, statewide and divine - are essential in making a request not just a reality but also a treasured memory.

No request has been more memorable than one made by the staff at South Albany High School. They were seeking help for a special student facing dire circumstances. Diagnosed with a brain tumor and given only months to live, the teen’s medical expenses were piling up. Her family could not afford for their daughter to attend her senior prom.

Not only did the organization help her and friends go to prom, but the school, police department and local businesses united to make sure they had a fancy dinner, limousine, and a fun activity to make it a special night for her and a cherished memory for the family.

Thanks are often paid to H.O.P.E. Albany with tears of joy, letters of gratitude, and long lasting friendships.

“After an event, emotions are all over the map. Sometimes, I get a chance to sit with these families for dinner and talk about life. Honestly, I feel I am more blessed spending time with them than they may feel after the event,” says Speten.

The goal is to make a difference in one family’s life when they are facing a tough time. However, it is often the case that theirs are not the only spirits lifted. After hearing about the experiences of those who get the H.O.P.E. treatment, others in the community are inspired.

"Sometimes a family we helped goes out and does something special for someone else that is struggling. At that moment we know we made an impact in this community,” concludes Speten.

Driving enthusiasts are inspired by something different. Top end speed, exotic styling, precise handling and premium performance brand names find their way in the dreams and garages of those who have a fascination with the sports car.

With price tags sometimes in the six-figure range, the dream of driving a high-end car remains just that, a dream. For a select few, the passion for these specialized vehicles becomes an obsession and reality.

For Eric Peterson and his wife Amity of Portland, Oregon their passion for exotic automobiles has led to a garage with a dozen luxury high-end sports cars. Their collection includes dream rides like the Ferrari F430 F1 Spider, the McLaren MP4-12C Spider, and the Mercedes SLS AMG Coupe. To own just one of these vehicles is special, but to have a collection of them is a phenomenal blessing.

For the blessings the Peterson’s have been afforded in life through personal business and career ventures, they are equally driven by their passion to give back to the community. One of the many reasons they founded the non-profit, Dream Drives for Kids.

“Amity and I believe Dream Drives for Kids is our vehicle to give back to our community which is something we feel strongly about. The initial response and support we received locally let us know that we were definitely onto something,” said Eric.

So how does a garage full of luxury cars give back? It has been the Peterson’s experience in collecting these amazing cars; children are drawn to them. The mission of the non-profit is to create the greatest amount of joy, for as many children and their families as possible with the cars.

“It’s really a simple thing that we do — show off some fancy cars, go for a short drive, and give out some cool presents — but the response we get lets us know that it is working for everyone involved,” said Eric.

The children served by the Dream Dives for Kids program are racing toward more than just a finish-line, but recovery from significant medical challenges and life-threatening illness. By participating in a dream ride, they get to trade in being sick for smiles, laughter and joy for several hours.

The children are able to select one of the cars from the garage on the day of their Dream Drive. The kids and their families are encouraged to explore, ask questions and take pictures of the entire collection during their visit to the Dream Drives garage.

During the child’s drive, safety is the number one concern. Younger children are carefully buckled in using appropriate booster or child safety seats to both the parent’s and Peterson’s satisfaction.

“Sometimes the kids and I talk about the cars, sometimes we talk about their health, doctors and hospitals, but more often than not we just talk about life, tell jokes, and enjoy the ride. It’s important to me to make a sincere connection with each child so that they are comfortable, able to relax and have fun,” said Eric.

Families participate in the Dream Drive by following along, ensuring that the kids are never far from their parents. Both the roar of the powerful engines and excitement from the child’s experience is captured on video to create a memory of the child’s special day.

“My goal on every single drive is to see big smiles, hear laughter, and return the child to mom and dad; having them excitedly tell about what a great time they had,” said Eric.

The Peterson’s drive to give back does not stop with their own garage. Dream Drives for Kids has started to expand their efforts outside of Portland through the “Sit and Snap” program. “Sit and Snap” connects generous car owners with families across the country and gives children amazing access to rare and exotic sports cars.

The Peterson’s Portland garage of trophy cars continues to help create a scrapbook of happy memories a community can share in cherishing. “We have moms and dads in tears seeing their child smile for the first time in years, but they are tears of joy,” said Eric.