Vero Beach resident becomes first recipient of Vehicle Scholarship Program

January 25, 2019

Stuart - The 18-year-old watched quietly as the silver-grey cover was pulled back.

His shoulders fell, and his chin dropped to his chest. Overcome by gratitude, he quietly circled the car - a gift he still could not believe.

"Thank you," he said, struggling for words against a still-present feeling of disbelief. "Just. Thank you."

So began the Infiniti to Success event Friday, January 18, when Alejandro Munoz became the first recipient of a local, multi-agency Vehicle Scholarship Program.

The Vero Beach resident and aspiring Registered Nurse traded in his bicycle for a 2013 Nissan Altima donated during the event by Infiniti of Stuart.

"This will allow him to attend IRSC at the main campus in Fort Pierce and expand the area where he can seek employment,” said Chris Martinez, supervisor of the CCKids Road to Success program, which prepares young people like Munoz for life after foster care.

Munoz was awarded the scholarship because he proved himself resilient and goal oriented, overcoming homelessness and bicycling 22 miles round trip to work, Martinez said.

“In the short time he was in foster care, he was able to earn his GED, obtain stable employment and has dedicated himself as a youth advocate on a statewide level,” Martinez said.

The idea for the Vehicle Scholarship Program grew from discussions earlier this year among members of a multi-agency task force that addresses and responds to key risk factors among children. Those agencies include the Guardian ad Litem Program, Henderson Behavioral Health and Communities Connected for Kids.

One of the greatest barriers for teens and young adults in foster care is transportation, Martinez said. Reliable transportation, he said, is often the difference between going to college and not going to college.

The scholarship and Friday's award event was made possible by the support and contributions of local businesses, including Infiniti of Stuart, Caliber Home Loans, and the law firms of Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Riles, and Hoskins, Turco, Lloyd & Lloyd.

If you would like information about how to contribute to the scholarship program, please call (772) 528-0362.