Garrett-Keyser-Butler Community School District is celebrating a significant investment in student opportunity, as the district’s Heavy Highway program has been awarded $15,600 from the Trucking Cares Foundation, the charitable arm of the American Trucking Associations (ATA).
Founded in 2018 and led by John Lynch, ATA’s Senior Vice President of Federation Relations and Industry Affairs, the foundation’s focus is to “improve the safety of the trucking industry and the safety, security, and sustainability of America’s highways and communities we serve by supporting and promoting research, education and leadership development, volunteerism, and a broad range of charitable activities towards those ends.”
For GKB, this funding is a direct boost to one of the district’s most in-demand career pathways. The grant will be used exclusively to support students pursuing their Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), helping remove financial barriers that can prevent young people from entering a high-need industry. As the demand for CDL-certified drivers continues to rise, this support gives Garrett students a stronger, more affordable route into essential transportation careers.
This focus on education and workforce development aligns directly with the mission of GKB’s Heavy Highway program, which prepares students for careers in construction, heavy equipment operation, logistics, and transportation.
The grant comes as part of a larger philanthropic effort by the foundation. In 2025, the Trucking Cares Foundation announced donations of nearly $100,000 to support a variety of charitable causes, including truck-driver assistance, disaster relief efforts, and initiatives aimed at combatting human trafficking—reinforcing the organization’s commitment to strengthening both the trucking industry and the communities it serves.
The district expresses gratitude to the Trucking Cares Foundation for recognizing the value of career-technical education and for investing in the next generation of transportation professionals.
With this funding, Garrett continues to strengthen its reputation as a regional leader in hands-on workforce training—ensuring students are not only prepared for life after high school but empowered to drive Indiana forward.