“There was a ‘before Via’ and an ‘after Via.’ Once she started using Via, everything changed.”
— Stephanie, daughter of Via rider Debbie
When Stephanie speaks about her late mother, Debbie, her voice carries both pride and gratitude—pride in her mother’s strength and gratitude for the independence that Via Mobility Services helped her reclaim.
Debbie was fiercely independent. After moving to Colorado from Pennsylvania, she gave up driving due to health challenges. Relying on family for transportation was difficult for her; she never wanted to be an imposition. Then she discovered Via Mobility Services, and, as Stephanie describes it, everything changed.
“Via gave my mom an independence she hadn’t felt since moving to Colorado,” Stephanie said. “She could create her own routine, independent from ours. She didn’t have to wait on us to schedule rides or fit into our day.”
For Debbie, every scheduled ride represented more than transportation—it was freedom. It meant she could decide where to go, when to go, and how to spend her day.
“It lightened the load for us, but more than that, it brought joy and freedom to our whole family,” Stephanie shared. “Mom could be her own person again. She could take the grandkids places, have adventures, and be the independent adult she always wanted to be.”
Stephanie recalls how deeply those rides changed not just her mom’s routine but their family dynamic. Debbie’s newfound independence gave her purpose and happiness, and it gave her family peace of mind.
“Honestly, it felt like there was a before and after. Before, she was homebound after surgery. Once she started using Via, she could get out again and live life on her own terms.”
Beyond transportation, Debbie built real friendships with Via Mobility Services drivers. Stephanie remembers countless moments when Via gave her mom more than a ride—it gave her connection.
“Via’s drivers were incredible. They became friends of my mom’s,” Stephanie said. “They treated her with kindness and dignity. Every single time, they went above and beyond.”
For someone as independent as Debbie, that respect meant everything. She trusted the drivers completely and valued the friendships she built with them.
“The Longmont airport was one of her favorite places,” Stephanie shared. “She built a community there. She’d meet friends, watch the planes, and just enjoy being out.”
And then there were the special memories she created with her granddaughter, Serafina.
“When she took Serafina to the Longmont Museum, it was their first Via adventure together—a day we’ll always remember.”
That independence, those memories, and that joy were all possible because of community support.
“There were times when my mom could afford her rides and times when she couldn’t, and that’s where donations made all the difference,” Stephanie said. “Every dollar helps give someone independence, connection, and dignity.”
Stephanie and her family remain grateful for what Via Mobility Services provided to Debbie.
“Via is one of the most incredible resources Colorado has,” she said. “It changed my mom’s life—and ours.”
Debbie passed away in 2022, but her legacy lives on through stories like this, stories that remind us what independence truly means.
This Colorado Gives Day, Stephanie invites the community to continue that legacy by supporting Via Mobility Services.
When you give, you’re not just funding transportation—you’re giving the gift of independence, connection, and dignity to riders across Colorado.
This Colorado Gives Day, help keep our community moving.
Your gift to Via Mobility Services ensures that older adults and people with disabilities can live independently, stay connected, and move with dignity.
Donate Today, Make a Difference, One Ride at a Time!
Thank You to Our Matching Supporters
Thank you to The Herbert and Judy Paige Family Foundation, Platt Valley Medical Center, and Good Samaritan Medical Center for making a powerful impact with their Colorado Gives Day donation match. Together, we’re helping people live with independence and stay engaged in their communities.
