• by Tanya Gazdik , August 27, 2020

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles partnered with ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” to surprise a health care facility nurse with a Chrysler Pacifica minivan modified for wheelchair access.

It’s not quite on the scale of Oprah’s epic Pontiac G6 “You get a car and you get a car and…” giveaway, but the segment gave airtime to a partnership between the automaker and one of its aftermarket mobility partners, Vantage Mobility International. 

“We at VMI understand how important it is for families to have a safe and reliable vehicle that is accessible for every member of the family,” said Mark Shaughnessy, CEO of Vantage Mobility International, in a release. “Our core value is to never forget the challenges that our customers face, and to that end, we continue to partner with automakers such as Chrysler to ensure that those with mobility challenges have access to solutions that enable greater independence and make daily living activities just a little bit easier.”

The Chrysler brand and ABC’s "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" not only celebrated, but surprised Massachusetts nurse Florence Njoroge with the vehicle during Kimmel’s weekly Health Care Hero segment, which pays tribute to those on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis.

The Health Care Hero nomination letter was submitted by Florence Njoroge’s son, Jayson, who recognized her as a hero for working as a geriatric nurse at a local nursing home and rehab care facility in Massachusetts. Jayson also lauded Florence for caring for his dad and her husband of 20 years, who has been fighting ALS for the last decade.

Jayson wrote about his mother’s constant optimism and smile, while noting how a mobility vehicle would totally change their lives.

Chrysler previously partnered with another accessibility aftermarket company, BraunAbility, to outfit Pacificas for use by those with service dogs. The automaker created a dedicated website at driveindependence.org to promote that effort.

The Chrysler brand was the first automaker to support the automotive mobility industry and the first in the industry to help ease the financial burden of drivers with physical challenges, offering up to $1,000 cash reimbursement for expenses related to adaptive equipment.