Driven to Renew Foundation: Restoring Mobility and Hope for Alberta Families

When a vehicle breaks down, the damage often reaches far past the repair bill. Missed shifts, lost income and a growing pile of bills can push a working family from stable to struggling in a few weeks. Driven to Renew Foundation is an Alberta nonprofit built to stop that slide by helping working families keep their vehicles safe, reliable and on the road.

Driven to Renew was founded by Chris and Shelene Ferland, the owners of Good News Auto in Edmonton. It is its own registered nonprofit, separate from the repair shop, with its own application process and its own funding. Good News Auto partners with the foundation to carry out the repairs it approves.

Where Driven to Renew Comes From

The foundation grows out of the original JumpStart program, which helped hundreds of Edmonton families get back on the road after repairs they could not afford. Driven to Renew takes that experience and turns it into a focused, long-term mission of keeping people safe, working and moving forward, with a structure that can grow beyond one shop.

Why Reliable Transportation Matters for Alberta Families

In most of Alberta a vehicle is not a luxury. It is how people get to work, get kids to school and care for family members, often across distances that transit does not cover well. When a major repair lands unexpectedly, families can end up choosing between fixing the car and paying rent.

A car that cannot pass a safety check also puts the driver and everyone else on the road at risk. Driven to Renew focuses on vehicle safety repairs for exactly that reason, so a breakdown does not become a job loss or an unsafe drive to work.

How the Driven to Renew Program Works

Apply for Support

Working individuals and families facing financial hardship start by completing an application for help. Applications are reviewed based on need and available funding, so processing times can vary.

The 75/25 Funding Model

Approved clients contribute 25 percent of their eligible vehicle safety repairs, and Driven to Renew covers the remaining 75 percent. Sharing the cost keeps the help dignified and accountable, and it stretches every donated dollar further so more families can be supported.

Learning That Goes Beyond the Repair

The goal is bigger than one repair. Participants get access to step by step budgeting and planning modules through the foundation's education portal, along with in person vehicle care workshops that cover the basics of keeping a car safe and spotting problems early. Simple habits like regular maintenance and a seasonal vehicle safety inspection can prevent the next emergency.

The Impact So Far

Since 2012, the work behind Driven to Renew has helped more than 500 families and issued more than $500,000 in critical emergency relief. Behind those numbers are working parents who kept their jobs and families who regained some breathing room in their budget.

How You Can Help

Donate

Every contribution helps another family stay on the road. Driven to Renew is a registered Alberta nonprofit and is currently awaiting charitable status from the Canada Revenue Agency, so it cannot issue tax receipts yet, but every dollar goes toward real repairs for working families. Donate to sponsor a repair.

Volunteer or Partner

Tradespeople, mentors and local businesses all play a part, whether that means helping at a vehicle care workshop, teaching budgeting skills or sponsoring a repair. To get involved, contact the Driven to Renew team.

Apply for Help

If you or someone you know is struggling because of a vehicle breakdown or a repair you cannot afford, apply for support from Driven to Renew. You can also read real stories from families the foundation has helped.

From Repair to Restoration

Driven to Renew exists so that one unexpected repair does not cost a family everything. By pairing shared funding with education and accountability, the foundation helps Alberta families stay safe on the road and move toward lasting financial stability.