Petra Cares Appoints Kimberly Elliott as New Development Director

HOUSTON, Feb. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Petra Automotive Products is excited to announce Kimberly Elliott as the new Development Director for its nonprofit arm, Petra Cares. With nearly 20 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, event planning, and community engagement, Kimberly is poised to play a pivotal role in advancing Petra Cares' mission of supporting young adults aging out of foster care.

Under Kimberly's leadership, Petra Cares is positioned to build on its proven success in empowering vulnerable youth through life-changing job training and placement programs in the auto repair industry. Kimberly has a strong track record, having led over 45 successful fundraising events and raised millions of dollars for nonprofits. She is deeply committed to leveraging her expertise to further Petra Cares' impact.

"Kimberly's passion for community impact and her extensive experience in nonprofit development will be invaluable as we continue to expand Petra Cares' reach and deepen our impact on the lives of young adults," said Brian Meza, Executive Director of Petra Cares. "Her understanding of the power of a giving community will help us secure the resources needed to support more students and transform even more lives."

In just one year, Petra Cares has reached significant milestones, including the graduation of 34 young adults, with 82% of them either continuing their education or securing technician jobs in the Houston area. These achievements reflect the organization's dedication to providing free auto mechanic training, job placement, transportation, tools, and books to youth facing severe barriers such as homelessness, incarceration, and extreme poverty.

"We're proud of our accomplishments in just one year, but there is so much more to be done," said Arnold J. Gacita, Founder of Petra Cares. "Kimberly's expertise will be key to helping us expand our program, allowing us to reach more young people who desperately need the opportunity to build better futures for themselves."

Petra Cares has already seen remarkable success, with 15 students graduating from its most recent cohort at Lone Star College, and more than 70% of them now employed in the auto repair field. Looking ahead, Petra Cares aims to expand to Los Angeles and grow its annual cohorts, targeting 75 students in Houston and 50 in Los Angeles by the end of 2025.

In her role, Kimberly Elliott will be responsible for driving development strategies, fostering relationships with community leaders and supporters, and securing the funding needed to sustain and grow the program. "I'm thrilled to join an organization whose mission speaks so personally to me," said Kimberly. "Petra Cares is not only changing the lives of these young adults—it's helping to build stronger communities for generations to come."

For more information about Petra Cares or to contribute to its mission, visit https://petra-cares.org.

About Petra Cares:
Founded in 2021, Petra Cares is the charitable arm of Petra Automotive Products, Inc.  The organization's mission is "unlocking purpose for the vulnerable" by removing barriers to education and empowerment for parentless and parenting young adults. For more information, please visit petra-cares.org.

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Laurie Halter
Charisma! Communications
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SOURCE Petra Cares