Reynolds Student Receives Restored Vehicle from Community Partner Revive the Drive

Reynolds Community College student Samantha Pennington received a life-changing gift earlier this month — a newly restored Chevy Malibu — thanks to the generosity of Revive the Drive, a local nonprofit dedicated to helping individuals and families in need of reliable transportation.

Samantha, a single mother of four, has been an active participant in Reynolds’ Great Expectations program since fall 2024. She is pursuing a degree in Business Administration and plans to transfer to VCU after graduating in May 2026.

Until now, Samantha relied solely on GRTC buses and rideshares to get where she needed to go — to class, work, and her children’s activities. This lack of reliable transportation limited her access to stable employment and childcare options and made even simple tasks difficult — like carrying five people’s laundry to the laundromat each week.

Recognizing how transformative reliable transportation could be, Great Expectations Coach Karen Cole worked closely with Revive the Drive to help Samantha secure a vehicle and prepare for the responsibilities of car ownership, including budgeting for gas, maintenance, and insurance.

Revive the Drive restores donated vehicles and gives them, free of charge, to deserving individuals who demonstrate perseverance and potential. Samantha was nominated and selected because of her dedication, positive attitude, and determination to succeed.

“I met Wes and Anna-Lisa Barrier, the founders of Revive the Drive, at a resource fair last spring,” said Cole. “When I learned about their mission, I immediately thought of some of my students facing significant transportation barriers. Samantha stood out for her strong work ethic and ‘can-do’ attitude from the very first day I met her.”

This marks the second time Revive the Drive has donated a car to a Reynolds student. Though the organization is relatively new, its impact is already being felt across the community. Each vehicle they restore represents more than just transportation — it’s a pathway to stability, opportunity, and independence.

Revive the Drive’s mission is simple yet powerful: to breathe new life into donated vehicles and, in turn, into the lives of those who receive them. Their story, and the inspiring work behind it, can be found at revivethedrive.org/about-us.

For Samantha, this car means more than convenience — it’s a symbol of progress and possibility. With reliable transportation, she can now focus more fully on her studies, her children, and her future.

“This kind of community partnership truly embodies the spirit of Reynolds,” said Dr. Curt Smith, Dean of Downtown Campus and Student Services. “It’s about connecting students with opportunities that remove barriers and help them thrive — both in and out of the classroom.”

To learn more about Reynolds Student Support Services — Great Expectations, visit our website.