
With the high rate of unemployment in our area, can you imagine having a job but being at risk of losing it because you didn't have a way to get there?
Wheels of Success is a local nonprofit organization that provides transportation solutions to Tampa Bay area residents who are employed but struggling to get to work because they lack reliable transportation. The nonprofit obtains vehicles through purchase or donation and works with automotive businesses to repair and restore them to good running condition before presenting them to local residents.
In recognition of her efforts to keep working families working, the Tampa Bay Lightning honored Susan Jacobs, founder and CEO of Wheels of Success, as a Lightning Community Hero during the December 12 game against the New Jersey Devils. Jacobs, who received a $50,000 donation from the Lightning Foundation and the Lightning Community Heroes program, will contribute the money to Wheels of Success to fully establish and expand their new Build A Car program.
The Build A Car program allows individuals or teams to "adopt" a specific car from their inventory of donated vehicles and to fund all or a part of the repairs needed to get it road ready. The program, which has already been successfully launched in two locations, uses signboards placed in local businesses and meeting places of service organizations to provide detailed information about specific vehicles that have been donated, as well as photos and stories about Tampa Bay area families who are on their Waiting for Wheels list.
Build A Car participants will be able to choose a specific vehicle, as well as designate a vehicle recipient from one of four specialized programs:
- Wheels to the Future for former foster care and other unaccompanied youth
- Vehicles for Veterans for current and former members of our armed services
- Cars for Caregivers for patient caregivers
- Road to Independence for survivors of domestic violence
The average cost to repair and recondition a donated car is between $2000 – 2500, but as little as $25 (their negotiated cost of an oil and air filter change) can help us initiate the repairs to Build A Car for a local family.
Wheels of Success accepts donations of vehicles in any condition—running or not. Donors receive the highest IRS tax deduction, and through our partnership with AAA Auto Club South, towing is free.
To date, Wheels of Success has provided 459 safe, reliable vehicles and an additional 464 car-related services to residents of Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties to enable them to get to work and support themselves.
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