First Student Partners With Advanced Remarketing Services to Support Special Olympics Through Vehicle Retirement Program

Source: PR Newswire ↗

First Student, North America's largest student transportation services provider, today announced a new partnership with Advanced Remarketing Services (ARS) that will donate proceeds from end-of-life vehicle sales to charitable organizations aligned with First Student's mission of caring for students and communities.

The first beneficiary is Special Olympics , an organization dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities through sports, inclusion and opportunity. Within North America, more than 800,000 Special Olympics athletes train and compete in sports, participate in health programming, develop leadership skills, and engage in more inclusive school environments.

“At First Student, caring for students and keeping them safe is at the heart of everything we do, and our mission is to provide the best transportation experience, so students arrive ready to achieve their full potential,” said John Kenning, CEO and President of First Student. “Supporting Special Olympics is a powerful example of how we live our value of Fostering Teamwork, working together with integrity, championing inclusion, and creating safe, welcoming environments where students with special needs feel supported, respected, and empowered, both in school and beyond.”

First Student is an industry-leading provider of special education transportation in North America and the only transportation provider with a dedicated Student Services team focused exclusively on the student experience for special needs children and their families. That team is responsible for developing and administering the company's First Serves offering, a specialized training program developed in collaboration with child psychologists and clinical experts to equip drivers and monitors with the skills, empathy, and tools needed to support students with complex needs.

Supporting Special Olympics builds on that foundation, extending First Student's impact beyond the school day and into programs that promote confidence, inclusion, and achievement for students with special needs, including intellectual disabilities.

“We are grateful that First Student has selected Special Olympics North America as a beneficiary of this program,” said Greg Epperson, Regional President and Managing Director, Special Olympics North America. “Their commitment to students, including those with intellectual disabilities, is admirable and we look forward to working together to expand access, inclusion, and opportunities through sport.”

The partnership with ARS also reinforces First Student's commitment to environmental responsibility. Through ARS' SHIFT Vehicle Retirement Program, retired vehicles are removed from service and recycled in an environmentally responsible manner.

“We're thrilled to partner with First Student to retire their end-of-life vehicles,” said Emily Pochman, Senior Director of Partnerships at Advanced Remarketing Services. “We respect their dedication to communities and the environment, and we're excited to work together to make a significant impact. We pride ourselves on operating vehicle donation programs for some of the most respected charities, including Special Olympics North America.”

This initiative underscores First Student's commitment to aligning sustainable fleet operations with meaningful community investment, creating positive impact for students, families, communities and the environment.