- Everett, Wash., family wins $17,000 through VMI’s Dare to Compare sweepstake
- Gomez-Perez family to be surprised with $14,098 to pay for mobility van conversion for 5-year-old daughter with Cerebral Palsy, plus $3,000 in spending cash
- Access Mobility Systems and Washington Access Fund helped the family secure financing for a Dodge Caravan with VMI Northstar E Wheelchair Ramp Conversion
SEATTLE – Sept. 9, 2015–Vantage Mobility International (VMI) announced today that the Gomez-Perez family of Everett, Washington, was selected as the winner of the company’s Dare to Compare sweepstake.VMI will surprise the family with a cash prize equal to the cost of their brand new wheelchair accessible minivan conversion plus $3,000 on September 15, 2015, at 10 a.m. The press event will be held at Access Mobility Systems (AMS), a VMI mobility dealership, located at 7202 Evergreen Way, Everett, Washington.
“We’re thrilled that our national Dare to Compare sweepstake will help improve the daily lives of the Gomez-Perez family,” said Doug Eaton, President and CEO of VMI. “The family doesn’t know they’ve won, so we hope they will receive the prize with as much excitement and joy that we all feel here at VMI. The cash prize will cover the cost of their Northstar E conversion plus $3,000 to help them enjoy their new van even more.”
Maya Gomez-Perez is a 5-year-old Everett, Washington girl who was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy when she was 8-months-old. At the age of two Maya suffered a stroke, further complicating her condition, resulting in the need for a feeding tube and respiratory assistance. The family struggled getting Maya to and from doctors’ appointments in an old work truck, at times causing injury to Maya and damage to her wheelchair.While in search for a wheelchair-accessible vehicle to help transport their daughter, the Gomez-Perez family discovered the VMI minivan with the Northstar E manual ramp conversion at AMS
Everett-based mobility dealer, Access Mobility Systems (AMS),worked with the Gomez-Perez family to purchase theirDodge Grand Caravan with VMI Northstar E wheelchair ramp, soliciting financing support from Washington Access Fund and encouraging them to enter VMI’s Dare to Compare sweepstake. As winners, VMI will cover the cost of the wheelchair rampconversion, plus provide an additional $3,000 for the family to spend as they wish.
Washington Access Fund, based in Seattle, Washington, is an organization dedicated to promoting access to technology and economic opportunity for individuals with disabilities in Washington State. The organization helped the Gomez-Perez family secure an Assistive Technology Loan for the Dodge Grand Caravan with VMI Northstar E conversion.
“The Gomez-Perez family struggled with transporting Maya without awheelchair accessible van,” said Reuben Hawkins, mobility consultant and VMI brand expert for AMS. “Moving Maya in and out of a standard car seat was extremely difficult. The family was on a limited budget, so we connected them with the Washington Access Fund. We also encouraged them to enter VMI’s Dare to Compare Sweepstakes to cover the cost of their conversion. We’re overjoyed to hear their names were drawn.”
Journalists are invited to attend the surprise check presentation to the Gomez-Perez family on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2015, at 10 a.m.at the Access Mobility Systems store located at 7202 Evergreen Way in Everett, Washington.
For more information about the Gomez-Perez family and how VMI’s Northstar E conversion impacts their lives, watch NBC King5 news coverage.
