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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.

Waiting for Wheels!

A mother of two who is leaving a domestic violence situation because she is terrified to remain in her home with the children’s father. A “new to her” car will allow Anna to take her children to school and drive herself to work, freeing her from depending on her abuser.

An accompanied youth who was referred to Wheels of Success through Metropolitan Ministries. Reliable transportation would help Jasmine get to her job on time each day—and help her maintain her self-sufficiency.

A U.S. Navy veteran with a 7-year old daughter. Gabriella has a car, but the transmission needs to be replaced and she cannot afford the required repairs. Since she works the evening shift, bus transportation is not available to her after work and she is afraid of losing her job because without her own car, she does not have a way to get home at night.

No Longer Waiting for Wheels!

	A victim of sexual assault who moved out of her parents’ home as soon as she turned 18. Kristen is now struggling to make it on her own without support from her family. She works in the evenings and her shift ends after the last bus stops running. Sometimes she has to walk home alone at 11:30pm — in the dark and without sidewalks. Kristen said, "It scares me to be out at night because of what happened to me. I just want to get my life back."
	An elementary school nurse who is battling breast cancer. Emily travels by bus from Pinellas to Hillsborough County each day with her 8-year old daughter. The commute takes 3 hours and 4 buses — each way. Sometimes it's so late when they get home they "miss dinner and crash into bed, just to wake up a few hours later." Having her own car would not only help Emily get to work easier, it would also provide her the means – and the time – to get to her oncologist appointments.

Wish List

Wheels of Success always accepts vehicles, boats and RVs (running or not). We are also currently in need of:

If you can donate any of the items on our wish list please contact us.