Welcome!

Greetings!

With two months left in our fiscal year, I’m excited to report our specialized medical transportation program has already surpassed last year’s numbers, having increased by 20% this year. This program, the reason CTN exists, is supported primarily through philanthropy. 

Many of our donors choose to support CTN once or twice a year, usually at an event like Dine4Rides. But sometimes, making a one-time, larger gift isn’t easy. I have a young, growing family that is filled with athletics, scouting, and competitive dance. My family knows and sees the impact of CTN every day and we want to support the mission as much as we can. Since we can’t do one big gift, we spread our impact throughout the year with monthly giving. We budget it, just like our grocery bill. 

May and June are months filled with honoring and memorializing our loved ones. Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Memorial Day are each opportunities to consider those in our lives we have cherished most. Will you consider joining my family as a monthly donor? It’s your opportunity to have a big impact on our mission with only a little impact on your budget. 

$15 a month funds CPR training for 12 drivers

$25 a month supports six weeks of rides to physical therapy

$50 a month gives a dialysis client transportation for three months

Will you join us as a monthly donor and make your impact all year long? You can sign up on our website.

Justin

After a fall, Kathleen was going to physical therapy appointments two and three times a week, and she relied on CTN to get her there. She was referred to us by the Aging and In-home Services, and she says it is one of the most wonderful gifts she’s ever been given. 

“Every person who drove me was just exceptional. They weren’t hired just for their driving capabilities; every one of CTN’s drivers felt like family,” she said. “It is only because of CTN that I am better than my surgeon thought I would ever be.”

And she wants to make sure this life-saving service is available for whoever needs it for years to come. That’s why she spoke at our Dine4Rides Gala this year. She wanted to share her story and encourage people to give, and said “Please open your hearts and your wallet to this wonderful organization.”

We could not do what we do without our dedicated staff, so let's get to know them!

Jackson celebrated his 2nd anniversary at CTN in January. As a scheduler, he works behind the scenes to coordinate the logistics of getting our clients where they need to go. His previous customer service background has helped build a great rapport with our clients! His favorite CTN memory is working our Hop On Brew Tour fundraiser. Outside of work Jackson loves to golf.

For the last nine months, he’s worked on a special project partnering with Cancer Services to provide nearly 1800 free rides to cancer patients. Working with both Cancer Services staff and the patients, he made sure they had a ride to not just treatments, but also oncology appointments, labs, and even special therapies at Cancer Services.

“I wish more people knew what a positive impact CTN makes in the daily lives of our clients,” he said. “We care.”

Join Us for the Hop On Brew Tour!

Date: November 9, 2024

Time: 1:00 PM (VIP entry at 12:00 PM)

Location: Promenade Park, Fort Wayne, IN

Are you ready for a one-of-a-kind experience that supports a great cause? Join us for the Hop On Brew Tour, a fundraising event benefiting the Community Transportation Network (CTN). It's going to be an unforgettable day filled with craft brews, camaraderie, and community support.

Event Highlights:

Explore Fort Wayne's vibrant brewery culture with your friends and fellow beer enthusiasts.

Enjoy convenient and reliable transportation between multiple breweries, courtesy of CTN.

Low-cost medical rides for seniors and individuals with disabilities are at the heart of this fundraiser.

Get the chance to taste a variety of craft brews, make new friends, and create lasting memories.

To be a part of this fantastic event and show your support for CTN, visit HopOn24.givesmart.com to grab your tickets.

Don't miss out on this extraordinary opportunity to indulge in amazing brews, make memories, and contribute to our community's transportation needs. Let CTN handle the driving while you savor the hoppy delights. We're excited to raise a glass with you and make this day truly special. Cheers!

In April, we hosted our annual Dine4Rides Gala at the Parkview Mirro Center for Research & Innovation. Guests dressed in their best western wear and enjoyed a night of dining, bidding, and inspiration. In addition to funding over 3,000 rides that night, donors sponsored 2 new transmissions for vehicles that were stuck in the shop. 

Mark your calendar May 1, 2024 for next year’s Dine4Rides Gala when we will head to the Derby.

View photos from the 2024 event on Facebook.

Gifts from local foundations make it possible for us to provide transportation to thousands of low-income seniors and people with disabilities each year. Special thanks to the following for your generous gifts last quarter:

• Allen County Department of Health
• Carson and Rosemary Noecker Family Foundation
• Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne
• Custom Engineering & Fabrication, Inc.
• Hoosier Spirit Fund
• Indiana Department of Health
• Janice L. Burgette Foundation
• Life Adult Day Academy
• M.E. Raker Foundation
• Olive B. Cole Foundation, Inc.
• Parkview Health
• PHP Foundation
• Rego Graves Charitable Fund
• St. Joseph Community Health Foundation

Karen joined our board over 6 years ago. Before getting involved with CTN, she had not given much thought to her ability to drive nor that she had a vehicle at all. Her friend, Kira Downey, was a CTN board member and a rider. Karen witnesses Kira’s experience, like the obstacles she faced getting to medical appointments, firsthand and saw how CTN helped her.

“The transportation services that CTN provides are crucial for their riders, some life sustaining,” she said. “CTN is one of the links that makes our community vibrant and welcoming!”

When she first joined the board, she was surprised to learn about the variety of trips that we provide: medical, grocery, work trips, charter trips. 

When asked about her favorite memory over the years, she said “The first time I did a ride along was heartwarming. It was obvious that the driver was at ease with her riders and had established a relationship with them. She made sure the rider got into the building safely. She joked with a few and asked questions about how they were doing or what was going on for them that day.”

CTN and their drivers see the riders as individuals and honors them as unique and wonderful human beings. Talk about connection and community! 

Free Shuttles at Summer Festivals

Heading downtown this summer for one of the many amazing festivals? We have partnered with several festivals to offer a FREE shuttle service. As each festival nears, we will post more details.

We Were on PBS PrimeTime!

Last week, Justin joined John Metzinger of Citilnk and Bruce Haines on PBS Primetime to talk about the results of our Regional Transportation Assessment and the state of transportation in Northeast Indiana. Watch it online.

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