Mechanic donates car to student who biked 6 hours to sign up for classes

Saturday, August 20, 2016
VIDEO: Local mechanic donates car to Ga. student
An act of kindness that started in Northeast Philadelphia and headed south.

PHILADELPHIA -- An act of kindness 800 miles in the making started in Philadelphia and headed south.

Fred Barley, 19, is a college student in Georgia who rode six hours on a borrowed bike in 100 degree heat. When he got to Gordon State College, he pitched a tent and waited just to register for classes.

Seven states away, Andrew Ungaro, an auto mechanic at BelAir Automotive in Northeast Philadelphia, saw his story on Facebook and got to work.

He fixed up a 2003 Hyundai and drove it all the way down to Georgia himself to give Barley the car.

"He said he couldn't believe that so many people came out of the woodwork to help little old him, and he had no idea that his drive to go to school early and sleep in the bushes was going to turn into a life changing event - and not just for him but so many people have risen up for this," Ungaro said.

Ungaro told Barley when he is done with the car, he too should pay it forward.

Barley wants to be a doctor, and already has a job at a pizzeria near campus.