TAMPA, Fla. — A Tampa business man who worked hard to buy a Lamborghini wants to give back to the community in the form of free rides for kids to inspire them to achieve their goals.
“The vision to this is to show young kids that you don’t have to be a superstar, you don’t have to be an athlete,” said Cris Martinez, 33, Lamborghini owner. “You can get a car like this no matter where you’re from as long as you work hard.”
Martinez said he grew up in a tough New York City neighborhood and moved to the Tampa area after graduating from high school in 2009 to attend college. He got a job working at a bank and then got busy creating businesses.
“I own a coffee shop over on Busch (Boulevard). It’s called CoffeeMe. I’m a general contractor. I’m a builder here in Florida,” he said. “I’m also a real estate broker. We manage other properties. Help clients buy and sell as well.”
In early November, Martinez decided to reward himself by purchasing a 2021 Lamborghini Huracan that cost about $289,000, it was his childhood dream car.
“It was definitely quite an accomplishment for me,” he said. “I’ve admired this car since I was 8 years old. Had posters of them, background on the phone for many years.”
Martinez said he began thinking about starting a new program to motivate young people when he saw a post from Erin Routzahn on the “I Love St. Pete” Facebook group page that same month.
“I had just posted my friend’s son is really into fancy cars. I’ll pay somebody to take him on a quick ride,” said Routzahn. “Then Cris a stranger out of the kindness of his heart responded.”
Martinez said he looked at the opportunity as a blessing to put a young man into that kind of scenario and refused to accept any money for the ride.
“I said, ‘no way. I’m not going to let anyone pay for something like that,’” he said. “I’ve always wanted to do something like this.”
On Christmas Eve, Martinez drove from his Channelside home to St. Petersburg to surprise Malakai Niblack for his 11th birthday. The boy was shocked to see the Lamborghini pull up to his home and couldn’t believe he was getting ride.
“He said it was the best day of his life and that it motivates him to do good at school and to reach for his goals,” said Routzahn. “He understands that the Lamborghini is just a symbol of hard work.”
Martinez said Niblack’s pure joy for the car was contagious and it made him feel like a kid again.
“He got the surprise probably of his life so far. The feeling is incredible. It takes you back to being a young kid,” he said. “Wishing, inspiring, it’s a feeling that if other people have exotic cars they need to experience for sure.”
The Lamborghini owner said he’s done one more surprise ride since, has two more lined up and has picked out a name for the new program he wants to start.
“It’s going to be called ‘Dream Drive Foundation,’ and it’s going to be focused again on young adults, young kids, boy and girls,” he said. “To be able to go ahead and sign up and maybe they’ll be able to pick a car that they actually want to drive.”
Martinez said he’s already recruited three of his friends who own exotic cars.
“They have Lamborghinis, Ferraris’, McLarens and they’re 100 percent on board,” he said. “It’s a safe thing because the parents reach out to us and the most important thing is the parents are right behind us too.”
Martinez said the liability is worth it and that also goes for the mileage.
“Putting miles on the car, you know, that’s what the car is for. I bought it so I can enjoy it,” he said. “So other people can enjoy it. So, I don’t mind the mileage.”
A successful business man giving back to the community in his own unique way.
“I think the biggest thing is not it being about us or me. It’s about the kids but for real,” he said. “You know what I mean? And if people understand that I feel like this can be great.”