Drive for Success
Drive for Success
We need your help providing free driver’s training to youth in our community!
Many families in Grand Rapids cannot afford the high costs of driver’s training. Young people typically have to wait until they are 18 to take the state test to obtain their license without attending classes or participating in driving hours with a learner’s permit.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Grand Rapids and the Grand Rapids Police Department have partnered with Century Driving School to provide quality drivers training to eligible Club members at no cost to the member or his/her family. Drive for Success is a 30-hour, state-approved driver’s education program that is led by Club staff, GRPD officers, and Century Driving School certified instructors. The program includes mentoring, hands-on training, test preparation, instruction on police procedure, and life skills development.
The pilot program ran in spring 2021 and graduated six Club members, all of whom passed the state test to obtain their learner’s permit or license. Demand for this program grew exponentially and we have more than 70 young people interested in attending. We are planning the next session to begin on October 11 with a goal of enrolling 20 students. At a rate of $1,000 each, we need to raise a total of $20,000 to make the next session of Drive for Success a reality!
The $1,000 per student covers the driving program, extra instruction, driving time, and the fees and transportation necessary to obtain the permits or licenses.
Links to news stories about Drive for Success:
Fox 17 – May 18: https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/grand-rapids/drive-for-success-allows-eligible-students-to-enroll-in-free-drivers-ed-course
Fox 17 – July 21: https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/grand-rapids/grpd-officer-behind-drive-for-success-program-finalist-in-international-policing-award