Transforming Lives One Car at a Time

“This car has improved my life in many ways,” Tenisha says, referring to the Toyota Sienna van she purchased from Samaritan Car Care Clinic in spring 2024. “I used to walk two miles to the bus stop to get to my training classes. It was really hard during the winter months. Now I can get around and pick up my daughter from school without relying on the bus.”

Giving a Hand Up

Impact 100 provided a $100,000 grant to Samaritan Car Care Clinic in 2023 to assist women from the Brighton Center and Ion Center for Violence Prevention in Northern Kentucky to purchase cars at a reasonable cost and make strides toward greater independence.

To date, the clinic has used Impact 100 grant money to place five cars, including Tenisha’s.

Tenisha, who is completing a job training program at Brighton Center in Newport, KY, says having a car in good repair gives her added confidence that she can run her own life and get to where she needs to be. She has a tentative offer to work at the IRS in customer service and has aspirations to establish a career in Human Resources.

She is grateful to Impact 100 for making her car purchase possible: “You did a great thing for me. You’re doing amazing work!”

Clinic Director Bruce Kintner notes, “When ladies are choosing between paying the rent and buying groceries, vehicle maintenance and repairs typically aren’t on their priority list. Yet, access to affordable and reliable transportation is one of the single greatest determinants of financial independence. You can’t hold a job if your car doesn’t work or doesn’t start.”

He continues, “Cars six and seven from Impact 100 are ready to go and just waiting for candidates to acquire insurance. This grant has allowed us to do far more than we otherwise could have. And it’s immediately transformative for the ladies we can help.”

From Banker to Mechanic to Nonprofit Car Care Director

The concept of providing oil changes, car repairs and reliable cars for sale to people with low incomes has evolved for Bruce Kintner since 2007.

“I had a career in corporate banking for 34 years, but I’ve always been mechanical,“ he says. “I offered to do oil changes for the minister at my church, Madison Avenue Christian Church. As I was working under his car in my home garage in 2007, Pastor Simon said, ‘I have this problem, and I need you to figure out a solution.’”

Pastor Simon described the difficulties of single moms having car breakdowns due to delayed maintenance or worn-out parts. “They can’t get to work on time, and they can’t get their children to school or appointments.”

Over the next 14 years, Bruce continued in his job as Senior Vice President at PNC Bank. In his “spare” time, he assembled volunteer groups working at local repair shops to do oil changes for free and car repairs for steeply discounted prices. His work caught the attention (and financial support) of private and public foundations throughout the area, including the Greater Cincinnati Foundation.

A turning point came in 2021, when Bruce received several offers for financial backing and a gift of land in Covington to build a vehicle repair shop – but only if he would become its full-time director. Bruce accepted the challenge and resigned from his banking career. Samaritan Car Care Clinic took out a loan from a nonprofit lender to build an attractive, modern building at 1428 Madison Avenue, in Covington. It opened in August 2023 and helped more than 200 families last year.

Bruce continues to seek funding so his clinic can help more women (and men). “We partner with 10 different social service agencies, who send their clients to us,” he says. About 85% are women and close to 70% are single moms. Ethnic minorities make up 35%.

His challenge is that “we have the demand. We just can’t fix the cars without the money. Our clients don’t qualify for credit cards, and they pay as they can, whatever they can. They keep chipping away so we can pay it forward.”

So, Bruce continues his work as director and as development officer. He lauds the Impact 100 grant when applying for other grants. “In Greater Cincinnati, Impact 100 is the Good Housekeeping seal of approval. People know Impact delves into grant applications and wants a big impact.”

That impact is coming to life at Samaritan Car Care Clinic – one fine-tuned car at a time.