JUNE 26, 2024 – Health Foundation of South Florida and Green Cars for Kids (GCFK) are thrilled to announce the launch of “Free Babee,” a pilot project that provides free car rides for underserved pregnant women and children in South Florida. This innovative program, developed by Dr. Catherine Toms, a public health physician, addresses the dire needs and potential medical risks of pregnant women lacking reliable transportation. The program is poised to transform perinatal and infant health outcomes by increasing accessibility to maternal health appointments while also reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions that disproportionately affect frontline communities.
GCFK, in partnership with Freebee, the electric vehicle service that provides free rides through cities and universities, is set to make a significant impact. This collaboration will enable the use of electric vehicles, provide essential transportation to medical appointments at no cost to those in need, and demonstrate the power of collaboration in achieving shared goals.
Dr. Toms, the executive director of Green Cars for Kids, shared her motivation behind the initiative, stating, “There’s a huge gap in poor health outcomes that we can easily prevent simply by providing safe, friendly, and easy rides for pregnant women and babies to get to their regularly scheduled medical appointments.” GCFK aims to bridge this gap using electric vehicles, simultaneously providing transportation for families in need and reducing air pollution.
“Free BaBee” is funded by Health Foundation of South Florida, March of Dimes, and The Women’s Hospital at Jackson Memorial. In addition to a larger $2 million investment in 2023 by the Health Foundation of South Florida to improve Black maternal health in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties, this program serves as a potentially transformative solution for maternal and infant health in our community.
“We’re proud to support the innovative efforts of Green Cars for Kids in providing free transportation to under-resourced kids and expectant mothers,” said Loreen Chant, President & CEO of the Health Foundation of South Florida. “Access to healthcare is crucial, and initiatives like this help bridge the gap for those who have fewer options.”
The collaboration with Freebee will launch two Tesla Model Ys in central Broward and Miami. The vehicles will provide round trip transportation to eligible clients, enhancing efficiency and lowering the cost per ride. With a program based on the successful Kid One Transport System in Alabama, which has provided 437,000 rides to underserved women and children over 25 years, GCFK aims to positively impact South Florida with a greener solution.
