GRANDVILLE, Mich. — It's not Christmas yet, but for the owner of Buckle In Driving Academy, Bryan Heiss, it's beginning to look a lot like it.
Heiss knows it can be difficult for families to afford drivers ed, especially around the holidays. That's why he's accepting nominations at "Buckle In Driving Academy" for free driver's training.
"Sometimes, we get a lot of feedback, this is the only gift that some kids get from their parents is free drivers training. So I love doing it," said Heiss.
Heiss said all funds for his Give Back Program come from his company, and he's grateful to give back this Christmas.
"Each Christmas time we do a Christmas give back, where people can nominate a family that's in need, or a family with foster care kids, or just a family that needs, you know, a leg up. And so we offer free drivers training. So we've done this for four years. Is our fifth year doing it, and we've given over $90,000 away back in free drivers training," said Heiss.
Each Christmas, his Give Back Program offers 50 to 100 free driver training classes to families in need—which would normally cost $400-$500 per person.
Heiss said one of his favorite parts of giving back is being able to call families who were nominated for free drivers training.
"We love hearing, you know, the families as they learn that they are getting free drivers training. A lot of families don't even know that they're getting it at the time because someone else nominates them like a teacher at school or acquaintance, or, you know, sibling even. And so we love doing that, and love giving back to the community," said Heiss.
Buckle In Driving Academy has locations across West Michigan. All training is in person, both in the classroom and driving training on the roads.
Heiss is accepting nominations until Dec. 22 and encourages the community to nominate a person in need.
"You can go to info at buckleindrivingacademy.com or go to Facebook as well and you can nominate someone and then you just send an email in about them, a little bit about their story, with their information. Families love it. And like I said, a lot of times, this is the only gift that some of these kids are going to get at Christmas, is drivers training," said Heiss.