April 10, 2024

Zipcar Awards “Students with Drive” Grand Prize to Nursing Students for Harm Reduction from The John Hopkins University School of Nursing

BOSTON, April 10, 2024 – Zipcar, the world’s leading car-sharing network and largest campus provider, today announced that Nursing Students for Harm Reduction, a student organization from The John Hopkins University School of Nursing in Baltimore, Maryland has won Zipcar’s Students with Drive Grand Prize: $5,000 grant to support the organization, $2,000 in Zipcar membership and driving credit and a $5,000 grant awarded to Johns Hopkins University.  

Nursing Students for Harm Reduction advocates for harm reduction teaching, works to support harm reduction resources and advocates in Baltimore and bring awareness of evidence-based interventions, such as safe-injection sites and Narcan trainings, to nursing peers. Nursing Students for Harm Reduction focuses on reducing stigma, creating support, and providing appropriate and informed care to vulnerable groups through education, volunteer opportunities, educational presentations and discussions and community outreach.  

"Nursing Students for Harm Reduction is overjoyed and profoundly grateful to be the recipients of the Zipcar Students with Drive Grand Prize. We cannot wait to drive positive change in Baltimore and address the overdose crisis by purchasing naloxone kiosks that will provide the community with free life-saving medication 24/7. We are also excited to use Zipcars to physically take us further, allowing us to expand our reach in Baltimore and offer more communities overdose response trainings and harm reduction resources,” said Isabel Plakas, co-president of Nursing Students for Harm Reduction.  

“Student organizations across the country have a common need: access to transportation to amplify community outreach and its impact. It is impossible to narrow down winners, and we are thrilled to award the Grand Prize to Nursing Students for Harm Reduction from The Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing,” said Kate Smith, head of Head of Business to Business and Partnerships. “All Students with Drive entries fueled incredible support for their communities, on and off campus, and Zipcar is honored to support the students and universities shaping a more equitable and sustainable world.”  

About the 2024 Students with Drive Runner-Up Winners 

In addition to Nursing Students for Harm Reduction, Zipcar awarded grants to student organizations and universities across the country, including: 

Second Place: $3,000 Scholarship, $3,000 Grant to Student Organization, $1,000 Zipcar Credit  

  • Weill Cornell Wellness Qlinic of Weill Cornell Medical College, New York City: The Weill Cornell Medicine Wellness Qlinic is the first student-run clinic in New York City to offer free mental health care for those who identify as LGBTQ+, regardless of insurance status. They are dedicated to serving the needs of this community and to bridging the mental health disparities they often face. 

Third Place: $2,000 Scholarship, $2,000 Grant to Student Organization, $1,000 Zipcar Credit 

  • 17o1 Records of Yale University, New Haven, CT: 17o1 Records is a non-profit, student-run record label that produces original music for Yale student artists. They aim to kickstart student artists careers and build community around live music. 

Fourth Places: $500 Scholarship, $500 Grant to Student Organization, $300 Zipcar Credit 

  • CrimsonEMS of Harvard University, Cambridge, MA: CrimsonEMS selects students each year for a fully subsidized EMT course, where once certified these students can serve standby at a variety of events across the community. In addition, they are committed to improving the overall safety of the community through outreach initiatives. 

  • SOLES of University of California, Los Angeles: Soles is committed to empowering Latinx students in engineering and science. They aim to create opportunities and provide resources for both K-12 and college students, particularly those from underrepresented groups in STEM. 

  • Nurtured by Nature of Stanford University, Stanford, CA: Nurtured by Nature educates, empowers and engages historically underrepresented college students with nature through health advocacy, wellness campaigns and outdoor community-based activities. 

  • SISTUHs of University of Florida, Gainesville, FL: The University of Florida Chapter of SISTUHS, Inc. is an award-winning organization dedicated to community stewardship. They serve, empower and uplift the Black community through community service, education and political activism.  

  • People of Color Outside (POCO) of Pomona College, Claremont, CA: POCO is committed to expanding opportunities for students of color and low-income students to engage with the outdoors in diverse ways. 

An Affordable, Sustainable Transportation Solution on Campuses Nationwide 

For nearly twenty-five years, Zipcar has been a critical component of campus transportation and sustainability initiatives, providing students, faculty, and staff, access to Zipcars to pursue off-campus activities, enriching the student life experience and supporting a university’s impact on the community. Since Students with Drive first launched in 2011, Zipcar has given more than one million dollars in funding to empower more than 400 student groups across the country. 

Fewer personal vehicles on campus reduces traffic, congestion and carbon emissions, freeing up valuable space that could be used to enhance the campus experience. Today, Zipcar enables hundreds of campus communities to drive on-demand with gas and electric charging, insurance options, dedicated parking and up to 180-miles a day included in the cost of a reservation. To learn more, visit www.zipcar.com/universities

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About Zipcar 
Zipcar is the world's leading car-sharing network, driven by a mission to enable simple and responsible urban living. With its wide variety of self-service vehicles available by the hour, day or week, Zipcar operates in urban areas and university campuses in hundreds of cities and towns. Zipcar is a subsidiary of Avis Budget Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: CAR), a leading global provider of transportation solutions. More information is available at www.zipcar.com