At HopSkipDrive, we’re passionate about connecting students to opportunity. That’s why we were thrilled to partner with ElevateEdAZ, an innovative initiative launched by the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation to provide high school students with pathways to high-wage, high-demand careers. ElevateEdAZ had a vision: to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world experience through internships with leading companies like Mayo Clinic, Honeywell, and GenTech. But there was one major roadblock: transportation.
Many students lacked reliable transportation to reach these valuable internship sites scattered across the Greater Phoenix region. Public transport was often too time-consuming or impractical, leaving many students unable to participate. Additionally, without reliable transportation, it made it hard for partnering businesses to feel confident that students would be able to participate in and complete internships. ElevateEdAZ needed a safe, dependable, and flexible transportation solution for students to ensure their initiative could truly take flight.
Enter HopSkipDrive. With our focus on youth transportation and commitment to safety, we were the perfect fit to help ElevateEdAZ overcome this hurdle. By providing seamless and secure rides, we empowered students to access internships that would have otherwise been out of reach.
What began with 77 internships in 13 schools quickly grew to 300 in 20 schools, with a goal of 420 placements this year. In just one year, ElevateEdAZ saw a 290% increase in internship participation. HopSkipDrive’s contribution: 48,279 miles driven, transporting students to their futures.
One student eager to explore the healthcare field landed an internship at the Mayo Clinic’s Ambulatory Immediate Care unit. With HopSkipDrive ensuring his daily 45-minute commute, he gained invaluable hands-on experience, even witnessing a bone marrow biopsy. This student’s success story, fueled by reliable transportation, inspired countless others to pursue their own ElevateEdAZ internships.
“HopSkipDrive has been amazing! The drivers are great, the support system is always in touch...They are very respectful of you and your time...HopSkipDrive has an amazing safety system that tracks the drivers...I recommend HopSkipDrive to any parent or student who is thinking about it.”
—High school senior interning at the Mayo Clinic
Another student, working as a kids tech instructor at GenTech, relies on HopSkipDrive to get to work on time. Without a car or reliable transportation, HopSkipDrive provided the crucial link to this fulfilling role, where he teaches 3D modeling to younger students.
“HopSkipDrive has been amazing… They’re always on time... They send you a photo of the car and the driver, the make and model [of the vehicle], and license plate number.”
—Student interning at GenTech
ElevateEdAZ has made a meaningful difference to schools, participating businesses, and in the lives of students and their families. Here are a few things we’ve heard from participating businesses, schools, and families about the program:
“The transportation that ElevateEdAZ has secured for the students has really opened up the opportunities we are able to give. Our program requires reliable transportation, and this initiative has allowed us to bring on interns, who we previously would not have due to lack of transportation. This is a huge barrier that has been removed for the students and unlocks so many opportunities for them that could have been missed just because they did not have transportation. This investment in their convenience has been a win-win, enhancing both their internship experience and helping us bring on more amazing interns.”
—Michael Wilson, Chief Operating Officer at GenTech Support
“I wanted to express my gratitude to Westwood High School, Mayo Clinic, and HopSkipDrive. We as a family are very thankful for this opportunity for our son. My son has been able to have experience in the health field, which is related to his future career goal. Thanks to HopSkipDrive, he has been able to arrive at and from Mayo Clinic to complete his internship hours. We have been feeling very confident with the service, as they confirm the trip the day before, they also include the car’s plate, description, and a photo of the driver.
Also, through the application, you can see the route live, where they are at every minute, and a message confirming he has arrived safely to his destination, which gives us peace of mind. Thank you so much for this opportunity and I hope this helps other students and parents to make the decision to accept this helpful resource.”
—Ms. Martinez, parent of a student who participated in ElevateEdAZ
“HopSkipDrive is opening doors to real-world experiences and future opportunities for our students by providing safe and reliable transportation to our students. I appreciate their consistent support and partnership in providing transportation services for our students.”
—Dr. Patrick Gibbs, Ed.D., Principal of ASU Preparatory Academy South Phoenix High School, Phoenix, AZ
We’re incredibly proud to partner with ElevateEdAZ, an organization that shares our dedication to empowering young people. Together, we’re breaking down barriers and creating pathways to success, one ride at a time. We look forward to enabling continued growth and success for ElevateEdAZ.
Interested in learning more about how your organization, school, or district can partner with HopSkipDrive?