Come Celebrate on August 2nd
August 2nd, 2025, is the Newgate School’s 50th Anniversary. Come celebrate at the school’s first car show and discover what you need to know about its history.
The Newgate School has officially been providing education and community assistance for 50 years thanks to your generous car donations and cash donations. Join us at our very first car show on August 2nd, marking the Newgate School's 50th Anniversary.
The Newgate School’s Mission
The Newgate School’s primary mission is to provide free training in automotive repair to underserved youth in Minneapolis. The school is divided into two programs: mechanical repair and collision repair. Nearly 100% of graduates have jobs lined up upon completing their programs.
In addition to providing tuition-free training in automotive repairs, the Newgate School also operates a program called Wheels for Women, which donates refurbished vehicles to single mothers.
A Brief History of the Newgate School
The Newgate School was initially founded in partnership with the University of Minnesota in the early 1970s. In 1975, its founder, Ron Severson, incorporated it as a separate non-profit entity and started the Newgate School as it is known today.
In 1979, the Newgate School opened the Auto Body Training Center in St. Paul with the assistance of the Northwest Area Foundation. The center served young adults who weren’t finding success in traditional classroom settings.
In 1993, the Newgate School moved to its current location at 2900 East Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis, MN. The added space enabled the school to establish an Auto Mechanic Program and nearly double its student capacity. In 1996, the school started the Wheels for Women program.
In 2004, the Auto Body Repair and Mechanic programs relocated to a new, modern training facility. In 2017, an addition doubled the program’s capacity. Now, each program can support up to 24 students at a time.
50 Years of Achievements at Newgate
- 1975 - The Newgate School was incorporated by its founder, Ron Severson, as a separate non-profit training school.
- 1979 - With assistance from the Northwest Area Foundation, the Newgate School established the Auto Body Training Center in a garage in St. Paul.
- 1981 - The Newgate School began using donated vehicle sales to finance its programs instead of depending on tax-based government funding.
- 1993 - The Newgate School purchased its current property at 2900 East Hennepin Avenue.
- 1996 - The “Wheels for Women” program was established to help single moms.
- 2004 - The Newgate School expanded its Auto Body Repair and Mechanic programs after constructing a new, modern training facility.
- 2017 - An addition to the shop doubled the capacity of the Newgate School’s programs.
- 2025 - The Newgate School celebrates its 50th anniversary with its first-ever car show.
The Newgate School 50th Anniversary
We’re celebrating the Newgate School's 50th Anniversary on August 2nd, 2025, with our very first car show at our main campus. The show will start at 10:00 AM and continue until 2:00 PM, featuring cars, vendors, and food trucks. Come join us to celebrate the big event!
Newgate School Gives Back With Your Donation
When you donate your car to Newgate School in Minneapolis, MN, you give so much more than your vehicle. We provide tuition-free training to underserved young adults to help them achieve self-sufficiency.
Your donation helps our students learn the automotive mechanic skills they need to pursue a successful career as automotive technicians or autobody mechanics. Our students go on to work in places like automotive dealerships, repair shops, auto parts/supplies, and automotive service centers.
Newgate School goes beyond training. We give back to our community through programs like Wheels for Women, which gives free cars to single mothers in our area.