Eagle Scout Applicant Partners with Vehicles for Change to Award Car to Local Family in Need

In partnership with Baltimore-based nonprofit Vehicles for Change (VFC), a northern Virginia Boy Scout will award a car to a Carroll County family in need during a ceremony on Dec. 16 in fulfillment of his Eagle Scout service project.

David Manzella, 17, of Warrenton, Virginia, pitched the service project in October 2013 in order to earn the highest advancement rank of Eagle Scout. Manzella planned, develop and led the project from start to finish, securing a donated vehicle, raising the funds to repair the vehicle, and leading a team of eight Boy Scouts and friends in making the repairs themselves. Manzella and his fellow troop scouts will hand over the keys to a Carroll County family who currently lacks vehicle ownership during a ceremony on Dec. 16 at VFC’s headquarters in Halethorpe.

“I really wanted to help a family with my project,” said Manzella. “Two parts of the Scout Law that I live by are to be ‘helpful’ and ‘thrifty.’ I believe that I’ve achieved that in this project. I’ve helped a family in need of transportation and refurbished a vehicle to be thrifty.”

According to his Eagle Coach Kathy Kulick, Manzella has always had an affinity toward all things mechanical. Manzella is currently enrolled in the third and final level of the automotive program at Fauquier High School, although his knowledge of automotive services began at a young age, learning from his father at home. Ultimately, Manzella chose to partner with VFC because he connected with the organization’s mission and wanted his project to deeply impact the lives of others. This project allowed him to combine his career aspirations with Scout values.

“David’s hard work and dedication to making an impact on the lives of others is truly remarkable,” said VFC Director of Organizational Image Jen Harrington. “This is the first time that an outside individual has solicited and repaired a vehicle for VFC to award. VFC is proud to share the fulfillment of our mission with David.”

VFC is a nonprofit organization that empowers low-income families to achieve economic and personal independence through vehicle ownership and technical training. A Carroll County family of four will receive the refurbished 2000 Toyota Sienna. Residing in a rural area lacking public transportation, a husband and father of four young children must walk to his job in Mount Airy. The family must walk to a nearby grocery store and Walmart to get food and household supplies, but is limited in their purchases to what they can carry. All other activities require asking for a ride from friends or neighbors.

The car award ceremony will take place Dec. 16 at 2:00 p.m. at VFC’s headquarters: 4111 Washington Blvd., Halethorpe, Maryland 21227. Members of the media should plan to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the ceremony, and will have an opportunity to speak with VFC representatives, Boy Scout David Manzella, and the Carroll County recipient family. Please direct all media inquiries and requests to Josie Hankey at 410-420-2001 or by email at Josie.Hankey@FallstonGroup.com. For more information about VFC visit www.vehiclesforchange.org.