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NEIGHBORS
SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | AUGUST 2, 2020
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Nonprofits, Midas team up to help family BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer
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struggling Scottsdale family received an unexpected surprise this summer: a fully renovated 2006 Land Rover LR3. The vehicle was donated by 1-800 Charity Cars, which partnered with Midas and local nonprofit Family Promise. It was repaired and restored by Midas of Scottsdale. “We were very, very happy and blessed to know that we were going to get a Land Rover,” said Heather Miller, who took possession of the vehicle alongside her husband, Ronnie Ybarra. “We have been trying to get one for five years.” Miller and Ybarra have a 15-year-old daughter and two boys, 12 and 14. Working minimum-wage jobs, the hard-working couple not only faced long commutes to work via public transportation – as long as three hours roundtrip
In the front, Midas mechanics Enrique Milo, Dakota Olsen, Phillip Baker, Emmanuel Acosta, and Josh Snyder pose for a photo with Midas Scottsdale franchisee and owner Greg Milan, recipients of the Land Rover Ronnie Ybarra and Heather Miller and their three children, as well as Midas General Manager Lisa McFerran and Service Manager Andrew Guy. (Courtesy of Midas)
– but, as the coronavirus pandemic worsened, they became homeless and were taken in by Family Promise. “It made us homeless but not hopeless,” Miller said. “We stayed together as a family and looked out for each other and know we would make it through as a family – and that’s what we did,” she said. “It doesn’t matter where you live or what you have as long as you have your family and you care and love each other you have everything you will ever need.” The family was living at Family Promise for 45 days when they received the good news: They would be given a vehicle on July 24. “A car can be a lifeline to a family, allowing them to participate in their children’s lives instead of hours-long bus rides yielding little time for kids, their
see MIDAS page 25
Scottsdale native named to Blue Angels air show
BY PROGRESS NEWS STAFF
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Scottsdale native has been selected for the Blue Angels’ 2021 air show season. Lt. Katlin Forster was named events coordinator for the air show’s 75th season. The Blue Angels describes its mission as showcasing “the precision and professionalism of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps by inspiring a culture of excellence and service to country through flight demonstrations and community outreach.” Currently a naval flight officer instructor assigned to the “Sabrehawks” of Training Squadron 86, Forster is a 2013 Desert Mountain High School gradu-
“I joined the Blue Angles to inspire others to join Naval aviation, pass on my love for carrier aviation and for the opportunity to join an outstanding team.” ate and a 2013 Arizona State University graduate with a degree in mathematics. “I joined the Blue Angles to inspire others to join Naval aviation, pass on my love for carrier aviation and for the opportunity to join an outstanding team,” she said. Seven years ago, Forster joined the
Lt. Katlin Forster
Navy to work alongside military aviation and is serving as an F/A-18F Super Hornet Weapons System Officer. The squadron selected a C-130 demonstration pilot, a maintenance officer, an events coordinator and a flight surgeon to replace outgoing team members. Many highly qualified Navy and Marine Corps officers submit applications to join the Blue Angels each year. “This year offered an exemplary group of applicants from around the fleet, making our selection process very difficult,” said Cmdr. Brian Kesselring, commanding officer and flight leader of the Blue Angels. “With these fantastic new addi-
see ANGELS page 25
