Catherine Wynkoop, President of the nonprofit organization formerly known as WestFair Rides, announced today that it has changed its name to TRA (Transportation ∙ Resources ∙ Access) and added a new tagline, “Driving Independence,” to better reflect and communicate its mission and work to those in need. TRA helps older adults and adults with disabilities access a variety of services and supports so that they may live independently and experience a good quality of life.
“For over ten years, WestFair Rides has been a vital provider of volunteer rides to medical appointments, as well as information and referrals to services for older adults and adults with vision impairment,” said Wynkoop. “As the community’s needs have changed, TRA has grown and expanded its services to meet those needs. Our new name and tagline clearly communicate the broader purpose of our work, which includes helping people to be engaged in their communities and live to their fullest potential.”
Expanding services: The TRA Resource Hub
Renaming and rebranding the organization comes after a period of rapid growth and strategic planning in response to community demand. Since 2011, TRA’s network of volunteer drivers has grown, now providing 20,000+ rides to medical appointments; the organization expects to hit its milestone 20,000 ride in the first half of 2022. In addition to the growing requests for rides, TRA has seen its Call Center volume grow by 25 percent in the last year alone.
“Getting to the doctor is essential for older adults in order for them to maintain good health and remain productive members of the community,” notes Wynkoop. “We have long addressed that need by recruiting and vetting volunteer drivers to help their neighbors see their healthcare providers.
But now, we’re integrating our Call Center with a new resource, the TRA Resource Hub. It will serve as a clearinghouse of resources, information, and referral services designed to provide seamless access to services for older adults age 60+ and adults with vision impairment age 21+, their caregivers, and families throughout the region.”
Wynkoop explains further: “Our ultimate goal is to give older adults, caregivers, and community members centralized access to healthcare and social services that is just a phone call or a click away. We aspire to create a collaborative network of service providers willing to engage in a One Call/One Click regional system to support older adults and adults with disabilities by phone, chat, email, and text.”
The launch of the new TRA Resource Hub would not have been possible without the foundational support of several organizations that supported the database development and the upgrade of the Call Center information capacity over the past two years. Says Wynkoop, “We want to especially thank The Laura B. Vogler Foundation, Westchester Department of Senior Programs and Services, The Field Hall Foundation, and the Federal Transit Administration.”
To help TRA achieve its mission, the organization has brought on new employees to staff up its Call Center/Resource Hub. In addition, three new members have joined TRA’s Board of Directors, instrumental to the organization’s success.
Linda Travis, TRA board chair adds: “Our new name and tagline convey the scope of what we do, what we believe, and what we hope to achieve. We’re confident in Catherine’s leadership and the excellent team she has assembled, and we look forward to working together with our partners to carry out our most important work.”
About TRA
TRA (Transportation ∙ Resources ∙ Access) is a dynamic nonprofit organization which promotes the independence, safety, and mobility of older adults and adults with disabilities in Westchester County and the Hudson Valley. Formerly known as WestFair Rides, TRA provides volunteer rides to medical appointments for older adults (60+) and adults with vision impairments (21+). Daily, its Call Center staff shares information and referrals to services that help people remain independent and live at home longer. Since its founding in 2011, TRA’s dedicated network of volunteer drivers has provided 20,000+ rides to medical, dental, and cancer treatment appointments for individuals who might have otherwise foregone critical medical care. TRA is a leader in helping older adults and adults with disabilities age-in-place. For more information, visit my-tra.org.
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