Inside the training bays and classrooms of Petra Cares, lives are being quietly transformed—right here in Cypress and across Greater Houston. This Cypress-based nonprofit, launched in 2021 by Petra Automotive Products, is addressing one of Texas’s most urgent and overlooked crises: the challenges faced by young adults aging out of the foster care system.
Petra Cares’ mission is straightforward but profound—equip at-risk youth with the skills, confidence, and connections they need to build stable careers in the automotive industry. But the impact goes far beyond tools and training.
“We don’t just use these funds for training, we provide the classes, but we also give mentorship, help with purchasing their technician tools, provide life skills training, and even serve meals,” said Arnold Gacita Sr., Founder of Petra Cares. “For some of our graduates this is the first real support they have experienced from an adult.”…