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Who We Are and How We Serve Tampa Bay
Who We Are and How We Serve Tampa Bay
Pass It Forward Foundation is a grassroots, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to removing transportation barriers that prevent individuals and families from achieving independence. We believe that access to reliable transportation is not a luxury—it is a necessity that connects people to employment, education, healthcare, childcare, and opportunity.
Through the generosity of our donors, volunteers, community partners, and local automotive professionals, we restore donated vehicles and place them with carefully selected recipients who are committed to building a brighter future. Every vehicle represents more than transportation; it represents dignity, stability, and the opportunity to move forward.
How We Serve
We serve the Tampa Bay community by:
Restoring donated vehicles and providing them to qualified recipients.
Connecting individuals with reliable transportation to support employment, education, healthcare, and family stability.
Teaching vehicle ownership, maintenance, and safe driving through our Nuts & Bolts Auto Care Basics educational program or From Heels to Wheels for our woman led program.
Partnering with businesses, schools, nonprofits, and community organizations to expand access to transportation resources.
Encouraging recipients to give back by mentoring others, volunteering, or supporting their communities—continuing the cycle of paying it forward.
Who We Serve
Our programs are designed to support individuals who are working toward long-term stability, including:
Youth aging out of foster care
Single parents
Survivors of domestic violence
Displaced homemakers
Individuals transitioning toward self-sufficiency
Other community members facing significant transportation barriers
Our Commitment
We are committed to transparency, responsible stewardship of every donated vehicle and dollar, and building partnerships that create lasting impact. Together, we are transforming donated vehicles into opportunities that strengthen families, support local employers, and build a stronger Tampa Bay.
Driving Independence. Changing Lives. One Car at a Time.
Our Mission
Building Brighter Futures, One Car at a Time
At Pass It Forward, our mission is to restore donated vehicles and provides reliable transportation to individuals and families facing transportation barriers, empowering them to achieve employment, education, healthcare, and long-term independence. We believe that reliable transportation is more than a vehicle—it is the key to opportunity, stability, and hope.
Through community partnerships, volunteerism, automotive education, and responsible stewardship of donated vehicles, we transform generosity into life-changing opportunities while inspiring every recipient to one day pass it forward.
Idania Ettienne
Help Change Someones Life!
Testimonial
What People Think and experienced
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The Heart Behind Pass It Forward
Pass It Forward was founded by Idania Ettienne, a lifelong nurse and nurse practitioner, and Collin Ettienne, a seasoned automotive technician, business owner, and retired firefighter. Together, they recognized that reliable transportation can be the difference between surviving and thriving. By combining their passion for serving others with their professional expertise, they created a nonprofit dedicated to removing transportation barriers and opening doors to opportunity.
What began as a shared vision has grown into a community of mechanics, volunteers, donors, and partner organizations united by one purpose: providing reliable transportation to individuals and families working toward a brighter future. From restoring vehicles and teaching automotive basics to coordinating donations and supporting recipients, every volunteer and partner helps create lasting change throughout the Tampa Bay community. Together, we’re driving independence, restoring hope, and changing lives—one car at a time.
