TCF brings total support for South Dallas Driving Academy to $85,000

The Trucking Cares Foundation (TCF) recently donated $25,000 to the South Dallas Driving Academy (SDDA), a nonprofit that provides free driver education courses to low-income teens and young adults.

TCF initially donated $15,000 in seed funding to help launch the program in 2021, followed by an additional $20,000 in 2023 and $25,000 in 2024, as part of its ongoing commitment to expanding access to career opportunities in trucking.

The inspiration for South Dallas Driving Academy was Germany Williams, a young man who grew up in an impoverished neighborhood, earned his CDL, and changed the trajectory of his life. His story was recently featured in a documentary produced by Nothing Without Trucking. 

“The South Dallas Driving Academy has been instrumental in removing barriers to rewarding careers in our industry,” said Greg Owen, TCF chairman and head coach of Ability Tri-Modal. “By equipping individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds with the skills and credentials they need to succeed, SDDA is helping to create opportunity, strengthen communities, and build the next generation of trucking professionals. The Trucking Cares Foundation is proud to continue supporting this life-changing program.”

Nearly 40% of low-income individuals in U.S. urban areas—and nearly half in South Dallas—lack a valid driver’s license, often due to limited access to affordable driver education. The South Dallas Driving Academy addresses this challenge by offering a dual-track training program that enables participants to obtain their driver’s license and prepare for careers in transportation. SDDA is offered at no cost to Bonton and South Dallas residents, with a student course completion and program graduation rate of 90%.

Amazon supports weekly humanitarian relief flights to Venezuela in first-of-its kind collaboration

Amazon is launching seven weekly relief flights to Caracas, Venezuela, to deliver supplies to nonprofits serving communities devastated by the June 24 earthquakes, which have left more than 650,000 people in need of aid. This humanitarian air bridge marks the first time Amazon will provide this service.

The weekly flights are possible through a collaboration between Amazon, Airlink, the U.S. State Department, and the United Nations World Food Programme. The State Department coordinates access with local authorities, Amazon donates the aircraft and fuel at no cost to humanitarian organizations, Airlink determines what goes on each flight based on nonprofit needs, and the United Nations World Food Programme manages distribution in Venezuela.

"Getting supplies quickly isn't just helpful—it's critical," Bettina Stix, director of Amazon's Community Impact, stated. "This air bridge will route supplies to registered NGOs that can put them to use immediately to serve the people most affected by this catastrophe."

Nearly a decade ago, Amazon launched Amazon Disaster Relief to get emergency supplies to those in need. The company started with a first relief flight for Hurricane Maria and has since donated and delivered more than 30 million relief items in response to over 200 disasters around the world. This first-of-its-kind collaboration with Airlink is another step in supporting people affected by natural disasters.

The air bridge is one part of a broad effort for Venezuela earthquake relief, which includes ongoing support to more than a dozen nonprofits supporting communities on the ground, volunteering events led by Amazon team members in multiple cities, and the donation and delivery of over half a million emergency items within days of the earthquakes.

Ford Philanthropy, Uber, Rocket Community Fund join Last Mile Education Fund to support STEM students 

Last Mile Education Fund recently launched its Transportation Access Fund, a three-year initiative to ensure financially vulnerable STEM students can get to campus, internships, and learning opportunities. Ford Philanthropy is joining the initiative as a founding partner, with Uber and Rocket Community Fund joining as inaugural donors.

Thirty-five percent of Last Mile students cite transportation and mobility challenges as a barrier to persistence. Across the country, transportation disruptions—from unexpected car repairs to limited transit options—can derail students who are otherwise on track to graduate. The Transportation Access Fund provides support to cover these gaps, ensuring students can stay on track to graduate.

"At Ford Philanthropy, we believe transportation access is the key to opportunity. For many students, the simple challenge of getting to class, an internship, or a job interview is what stands between them and the future they've worked so hard to build," Joe Provenzano, director of mobility for Ford Philanthropy, said. "By partnering with Last Mile Education Fund, we're putting Ford's mobility expertise to work to close that gap and help students reach the finish line."

The Transportation Access Fund is live and will support students nationwide through Last Mile's rapid-response application model. Students can apply for transportation-related support at www.lastmile-ed.org/apply. The fund aims to raise $12 million to support 7,700 students over three years.

PepsiCo and the PepsiCo Foundation support relief efforts following Venezuela earthquakes

Following the earthquakes that impacted communities across Venezuela, PepsiCo and the PepsiCo Foundation are supporting relief and recovery efforts in partnership with local organizations and PepsiCo associates in the region.

The PepsiCo Foundation is providing $100,000 to Dividendo Voluntario para la Comunidad (DVC), a community partner helping deliver emergency assistance and support to affected communities. The organization is mobilizing resources to address needs as communities begin the recovery process.

In addition, PepsiCo employees around the world have come together to support relief efforts through a dedicated matching gift campaign benefiting DVC. Together with the PepsiCo Foundation match, the campaign has generated nearly $100,000 to support impacted communities.

PepsiCo teams have also mobilized product donations to support immediate relief efforts. Local PepsiCo teams provided approximately $10,000 in food and beverage products to support communities affected by the earthquakes. In addition, PepsiCo colleagues in Miami, working alongside government and business partners, helped coordinate the shipment of two truckloads, about 50 pallets, of Aquafina and Gatorade for relief efforts.

U-Haul offers 30 days of free storage, trailer discounts to wildfire evacuees

U-Haul is offering 30 days of free self-storage and U-Box container use to residents of northern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin displaced by wildfires across the region, including multiple fires in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). U-Haul is also providing discounted trailer rates for residents evacuating the affected areas.

At least 20 wildfires are burning in and around the Superior National Forest, with several inside the BWCAW. Smoke has triggered air quality alerts across much of the state. A number of Minnesota communities are affected, including Bemidji, Brainerd, Duluth, Ely, Hermantown, Hibbing, International Falls, and Superior, Wisconsin.

Access to self-storage units and portable storage containers is vital to communities when disasters strike. The 30-day free offer applies to new self-storage and U-Box rentals and is based on availability. The U-Box offer is for on-site storage at company facilities; delivery is available for a modest fee.

Evacuees needing a trailer discount should contact the U-Haul Company of Northern Minnesota at 763-780-4487.

In addition to its 30-day free self-storage disaster relief program, U-Haul is at the forefront of aiding communities in times of need as an official American Red Cross Disaster Responder.