Former Army Spc. Maria Tola this week received a payment-free vehicle at Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Princeton during a key ceremony attended by state Sen. Linda Greenstein. The vehicle was presented during Women’s History Month by Military Warriors Support Foundation’s Transportation4Heroes program, in collaboration with Wells Fargo and CDJR.
“I just want to say thank you to everyone involved,” Tola said. “This really could not have come at a better time.”
Tola, who accompanied by her teenage son, father and uncle, was chosen to receive this life-changing gift after applying to MWSF’s Transporation4Heroes program. The application has a rigorous vetting process to ensure that the veteran chosen to receive a vehicle is the best recipient to participate in the program. MWSF works with the veteran to ensure that the gift of a payment-free vehicle assists them in their successful transition out of the military and into their new civilian life.
Since 2015, Military Warriors Support Foundation’s Transporation4Heroes program has worked with companies across the country to award over 150 payment-free vehicles. In addition to providing vehicles, MWSF supports these combat wounded veterans. These programs provide crucial transitional support that focus on housing, outdoor recreational activities, transportation assistance and leadership development. Through this work, they have enabled participants to pay off over $26 million in preexisting debt.
Tola was born in Ecuador and lived there until she moved to the U.S. with her parents at the age of 12. She joined the Army in 2004 because she wanted to give back to her community. During her deployment to Iraq, Tola was wounded in action. Tola was honorably discharged from the Army in 2005. She received several awards during her service, including the Army Commendation Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal and others.
