WHEELS OF SUCCESS INC

Wheels of Success, Inc. (“Wheels”) is dedicated to providing personal transportation solutions by partnering with community agencies and businesses in a circle of support. Its mission is to provide employed but struggling families with vehicles, repairs and alternative financing to enable them to remain employed and improve their lives. Wheels repairs and restores donated vehicles to good working condition providing residents of Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties the opportunity to benefit from car ownership. Over the last twelve (12) years, Wheels and its social enterprise, Automotive Buying Center (ABC), has provided over 1500 transportation-related services to Tampa Bay area families including 824 vehicles and 747 repairs – averaging 100 vehicles and services per year. Our programs help end the cycle of homelessness by allowing the family to find permanent employment; help young adults aging out of foster care continue their education (Wheels to the Future; 5 in 2015); help domestic violence victims escape their abuser (Road to Independence; 22 in 2015); help veterans reenter the workforce after serving our country (Vehicles for Veterans; 14 in 2015); and help health care worker improve the lives of their patients after the buses stop running (Cars for Caregivers; 13 in 2015) as well as other working poor in need (20 in 2015).
The program instills responsibility, reliability and the satisfaction of accomplishment by “buying” vehicles from the program through completing a number of requirements over a one (1) year period including working full-time, paying low, interest-free car payments of $75-$125 monthly, committing three (3) volunteer hours monthly, maintaining car insurance and attend a car maintenance class. Wheels offers case management services such as budgeting, licensure and tag assistance, referrals to other agencies and acts as a liaison with employers. But the help doesn’t stop there; it warranties each vehicle for 90-days and provides recipients in good standing post-warranty assistance at a reduced cost. Upon completion of the one (1) year program, Wheels presents the title of the vehicle to the client after he or she completes an exit interview – allowing us to quantify the effects of transportation on the client’s employment, ability to provide self-care and personal growth.

Wheels’ applicants consist of those in need in Hillsborough (65%), Pasco (8%) and Pinellas (17%) counties, Florida. Its demographic outreach includes:

• Gender: 85% Female / 15% Male

• Ethnicity: 38% African American / 38% White/Caucasian / 17% Hispanic or Latino / 1% Asian or Pacific American Islander / 6% Multi-Ethnic

• Age Group: 20% Adults 19-24 / 70% Adults 25-55 /
10% Mature Adults 55+

After one (1) year, Wheels’ successful clients indicate report that 91% are still working or going to school; 38% have received a raise; 20% have been promoted; 57% can work overtime hours; 21% have obtained a second job to supplement their income; 35% have returned to school; 65% report participating in the children’s school activities though they had not been able to do so before; 16% have been able to enroll their children in tutoring; 76% have been able to participate in religious activities; 88% have saved time on dialing activities such as trips to the grocery store or bank; and 74% were able to make or keep preventative doctor’s appointments where they had not been able to do so before.