Petra Cares Empowers Cypress Foster Youth Through Automotive Careers
Inside the training bays and classrooms of Petra Cares, lives are being quietly transformed—right here in Cypress and across Greater Houston. This Cypress-based nonprofit, launched in 2021 by Petra Automotive Products, is addressing one of Texas’s most urgent and overlooked crises: the challenges faced by young adults aging out of the foster care system.
Petra Cares’ mission is straightforward but profound—equip at-risk youth with the skills, confidence, and connections they need to build stable careers in the automotive industry. But the impact goes far beyond tools and training.
“We don't just use these funds for training, we provide the classes, but we also give mentorship, help with purchasing their technician tools, provide life skills training, and even serve meals,” said Arnold Gacita Sr., Founder of Petra Cares. “For some of our graduates this is the first real support they have experienced from an adult.”
A Crisis with Long-Term Impact
The work Petra Cares is doing is not just noble—it’s necessary. According to the National Foster Youth Institute, 20,000 young people age out of the U.S. foster care system each year. Within just 18 months of aging out, 40–50% will become homeless. Additionally, only 50% of former foster youth are employed by age 24, and just 3% earn a college degree.
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In Texas, which has one of the largest foster care populations in the nation, the stakes are especially high. A 2023 report by Texas CASA revealed that within three years of exiting the system, 42% of youth will be incarcerated, homeless, or unemployed, underscoring the urgent need for long-term, skill-based support systems like Petra Cares.
The Petra Pathway: From Adversity to Stability
Since launching its first class in June 2023, Petra Cares has trained 106 students with a 79% graduation rate and a 71% job placement rate—numbers that stand in sharp contrast to national averages. Their approach is holistic, combining technical training with soft skills development, mentorship, and basic life support.
“Petra didn't just give me a job when I had nowhere else to turn. I was living out of my car. They provided a path to success and a real career,” said Levi Patterson, a program graduate now employed at Mac Haik Ford. “What made Petra truly special was the community; it felt like family, like I had brothers by my side.”
This sense of family and belonging fills a gap that many aging-out foster youth have never experienced. That human connection is integral to Petra’s success, and it’s reflected in their alumni outcomes.
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Industry Integration and Career Readiness
Petra Cares’ training directly connects students to the workforce. Through partnerships with industry leaders—including Hyundai, Mopar, and Stellantis—graduates are prepared to step into real, certified technician roles immediately upon completion. With over 360 automotive products distributed in 15 countries, Petra Automotive’s global footprint gives graduates access to a wide professional network.
“We are committed to offering each person that completes our training program the opportunity to receive job placement in the automotive industry as a certified mechanic or technician,” said Gacita. “By extending this support, we not only transform individual lives but also uplift entire families.”
Driving Change: Cypress Can Join the Mission
Petra Cares is now inviting the Cypress and Greater Houston community to help drive this mission forward—on the golf course.
The organization’s 1st Annual Driving Futures Golf Tournament will take place on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at Highland Pines Golf Club in Porter, TX. The fundraiser aims to generate essential funds to continue expanding the program and supporting student needs—from meals and tools to certifications and transportation.
The event includes a four-person scramble format, premium hospitality, contests, raffles, lunch, dinner, and an awards celebration—all in support of local youth.
Event Details
- When: Tuesday, October 28, 2025
- Where: Highland Pines Golf Club, 6700 Highland Pines Drive, Porter, TX (MAP)
Schedule
- 11:00 AM – Player Arrival & Warm-Up
- 12:00 PM – Lunch Served
- 1:00 PM – Shotgun Start
- 5:00 PM – Dinner, Awards, & Prizes
To register, sponsor, or donate, visit petra-cares.org/golf-tournament or contact Kimberly Elliott at kelliott@petra-cares.org or 281-224-3130.
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Why It Matters
“Only 3% of youth who age out of foster care will earn a college degree. Most are pushed into adult life with no family, no guidance, and few prospects,” noted a Children’s Bureau research summary. Petra Cares offers another route—one paved with purpose, stability, and mentorship.
With a national labor shortage in the skilled trades, particularly automotive repair, programs like Petra Cares aren’t just charitable—they’re essential. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the country will need more than 73,000 new automotive service technicians and mechanics each year through 2032 to meet demand.
A Community Solution to a Statewide Challenge
Petra Cares stands out for its direct action and deeply personal approach, rooted right here in Cypress. But their impact stretches far beyond the workshop floor. With every student supported, every skill taught, and every job secured, the nonprofit s working to create ripples of change—strengthening families, neighborhoods, and industries.
For residents of Cypress looking for a tangible way to uplift foster youth and address workforce needs, Petra Cares offers a path forward—both on and off the green.
Stay with My Neighborhood News for continued coverage of local nonprofits, youth empowerment programs, and ways you can support community causes like Petra Cares.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
