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Driven Foundation gifts wheelchair-accessible vans to Chicago families in need

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Published  December 16, 2024 7:53am CST
Good News Guarantee
FOX 32 Chicago

Driven Foundation gifts wheelchair-accessible vans to Chicago families in need

The Driven Foundation is helping Chicago families by gifting wheelchair-accessible vans, which can cost over $50,000 and are not covered by insurance.

The Brief

    • The Driven Foundation is helping Chicago families by gifting wheelchair-accessible vans, which can cost over $50,000 and are not covered by insurance.
    • Founded by retired firefighter Ben Wozney, the foundation has already provided two families with vehicles, aiming to ease their financial and logistical challenges.
    • Fundraising efforts, including a guitar raffle, support the program's mission of "moving the needle one family at a time."

CHICAGO - The Driven Foundation is a program that's moving Chicago families forward.

It is the only one of its kind in Illinois, gifting wheelchair accessible vehicles to families that desperately need them. 

On a brisk Chicago morning, Chip Trindl knows he can get his daughter, Oly, where she needs to go safely.

"I'm still sort of in this state of disbelief," Chip Trindl said. "They found this thing and I was like, this is really happening." 

A few weeks ago, Chip received a wheelchair-accessible van, courtesy of the Driven Foundation.

"The more that we're able to raise, the more families that we're able to help and that's where we got our motto, moving the needle one family at a time," said Driven Foundation Executive Director Ben Wozney.  

Wozney, a retired firefighter, started the foundation in October after helping fundraise for another local family that needed a van. The vehicles are not covered by insurance and can cost more than $50,000.

"These families have to put up with care costs, other medical expenses, day-to-day loss of jobs, not being able to work, so if we're able to take this one piece of the puzzle out of it for them, that's what it's all about for us," Wozney said.

The Driven Foundation has provided two local families with vans, at no cost to them. Mobility Works converts and certifies the vehicles.  

"Everywhere she goes, she needs to get around," said Chip as he stood next to his daughter. "I didn't want to leave her on a bus alone."  

For the Wozney, it's a family affair.  His daughter and her friends helped fundraise and get the word out. 

"It's the best thing in the world to me, especially Oly, to see the smile on her face," said Ben's daughter, Shale Wozney.  

"For me, part of it is about raising awareness. Without awareness, there can't be any change, so if there's a problem that nobody knows about, then nobody thinks of the problem," said her fellow New Trier High School classmate Margot Swibel.  

To raise extra funds this month, the Driven Foundation is raffling off a donated guitar that has been signed by all four members of the band Creed.  

You can go to the Driven Foundation website to enter the raffle, which ends Dec. 31. 

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