Success Stories
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Jamaica's
Story
"When I was 12, I couldn't imagine the journey I would soon take in my life. Nothing will erase that dreadful day that took place in November 2002. From that day on, I faced joy, neglect, abuse, and many bittersweet moments in foster care"
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Martinique's
Story
Martinique is a single mother
who is working hard to make a better life for
herself and her three children. She is
trained in phlebotomy and as a CNA (Certified
Nursing Assistant), and she recently landed a
job at a doctor’s office in Riverview.
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Melissa
and Nicole's
Story
Wheels of
Success partnered with Connected by 25,
Hillsborough Kids, Inc., Camelot Community
Care and Ready for Life to implement Wheels
to the Future, a program to assist
youth aging out of foster care with their
transportation needs.
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Honor's
Story
After losing her home, Honor
moved to Florida to start over to make
a better life for herself and her three
daughters. She was offered a good job
with a pharmaceutical company, but it
was on the opposite side of town. Because
she did not have a car, Honor struggled to
make it to work each day by walking in the
dark in an unsafe area of town to catch two
different buses each way.
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Al's
Story
After finding
an hourly job outside of his chosen
profession, Al had a new challenge: getting
to work. Because Al has a disability
which makes it difficult for him to walk
long distances and he and his family do not
live near a bus line, he had to rely
on his neighbors, friends and co-workers
for rides.
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Mareyame's
Story
Mareyame and her 3-year-old
son, Cameron, had to start their lives
over after Mareyame’s boyfriend
was killed last year. They moved to a
new apartment and Mareyame found a job
with Easter Seals, but without her own
car, Mareyame was having trouble getting
her son to daycare and herself to work
on time.
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Katie's
Story
Katie and her
two young children snuck out in the middle
of the night and hopped a Greyhound bus to
flee from their abuser. She stayed with family
until she found a job and a place to call her
own. Her employer calls Katie a "role
model" and an "exemplary employee."
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Aja's
Story
Aja is a single mother of two
elementary school-aged children who receives
no child support from their father. She
has been working for Goodwill Industries
for 5 years but was in danger of losing
her job at the time she was referred
to Wheels of Success.
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Jada's
Story
When Jada became estranged from her
parents after they found out their unmarried
daughter was pregnant, she decided she could
make it on her own. She would work and take
care of her baby by herself ... people do it
all the time.
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One
Family's Story
A year ago, the Walshes were
living the typical suburban life. They
were a two-income, two-car family living
in a comfortable, affordable home. Life
was hectic and happy with their four
school-aged boys.
The Walshes could have been your next-door
neighbors.
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Deron's
Story
Deron is a bright young man
with a positive attitude and many goals
for himself. He is currently attending
college and is working for the Department
of Children and Families. Deron's teen
years, however, were not typical. Deron
is one of many local youths aging out
of the foster care system.
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Fiona's
Story
After years of abuse and threats
on her life, Fiona and her young son
fled their home in the middle of the
night. She took nothing with her except
a laundry basket filled with clothes
and a few toys.
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Cynthia's
Story
Cynthia had it all—a
happy marriage, two beautiful children
and a successful career. Then Cynthia's
world was shattered by addiction. She
and her family suffered many hardships,
and Cynthia eventually ended up in prison.
When she was released three years later,
she began to rebuild her life.
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Jessica's
Story
Jessica is a single mother
with three young children, two of whom
are in diapers. When she left an abusive
situation, she sought assistance through
CASA (Community Action Stops Abuse).
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Carlos's
Story
Carlos is a strong, proud man--proud of
his wife and two children, proud of his
job with the St. Petersburg Police Department,
and proud to serve his country in both
Afghanistan and Iraq. Carlos is an Army
reservist who was called away from his
family and his job to serve his country
for two separate tours of duty, totaling
2 1/2 years. During his service, he suffered
a gunshot wound to his arm and partial
hearing loss from an IED that exploded
too close for comfort. > continue |
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Tannia's
Story
Tannia (whose name has been
changed in this story to protect her
privacy) was in a troubled and violent
relationship. For her safety and the
safety of her child, she knew she had
to leave her abuser, but this also meant
leaving behind her home and most of her
possessions.
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Keisha's
Story
Keisha, a soft-spoken single mother of
four, was in trouble. She had no home,
no car, and no job, but she never lost
her faith. Her prayers were answered when
she found help from the non-profit organizations
Starting Right, Now and Wheels of Success. > continue |
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Maritza's Story
When Maritza made the decision
to end an abusive relationship, she needed
to leave quickly to protect herself and
her three sons. Homeless and jobless, she
turned to the non-profit agency Starting
Right, Now for support. They were able
to help Maritza find a home and a job,
and then they referred her to Wheels of
Success.
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Maria's Story
Maria L. was driving a Chevy Lumina
she had purchased from a friend for $500.
She was putting too much money into the
car to keep it in the road. That's when
Maria heard about Wheels of Success through
Genesis, a counseling agency that assists
with credit management and ultimately was
referred to Wheels through the Homeless
Female Veterans' Program. continue > |
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Paulette's Story
Paulette J. had no vehicle. For
two years she and her grandson Hunter (then
5 years old) walked to everything ... work,
the grocery store, laundry mat, doctors'
appointments, and church. Hunter did not
understand why he they could not go places
and do things like other families did together. continue > |
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Chris' Story
Chris was truly grateful to be
re-united with his 12-year-old son but
lamented what his transportation limitations
stole from their lives before they received
a 1994 Ford Escort from WOS. "I believe
in Wheels of Success and what
it does," he says. "I am happy
I was chosen because we have been helped
in a lot of ways." ... continue > |
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Carla's Story
Carla says that Wheels of Success
gave her family the perfect Halloween treat
when they gave her a 2001 Daewood Leganza
in October. Before that, she didn’t
know how many more of life’s cruel
tricks she could endure ... continue > |
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Carmen's Story
Carmen officially received her 2000
Ford Taurus at the Wheels of Success fundraiser
at Tampa Bay Downs in February. She was
recommended to the organization by her
pastor at New Hope Alliance in
Lutz ... continue > |
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Eloise's Story
After working for Easter Seals for
eight years, Eloise fell sick. She soon
personified the when-it-rain-it-pours syndrome!
A single mother with four of five children
under her roof, Eloise saw her troubles
multiply ... continue > |
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Linda's Story
Linda learned about WOS through
a relative. This proud recipient says, “I
previously worked as a concierge, so I
have an inquiring mind and a need to know
everything possible about a service.” She
quickly discovered Wheels’ ... continue > |
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Jennie's Story
Wheels of Success has changed
my life. I heard about this program from
my dad, who listens to talk radio. He told
me to try it and see if they can help.
At that time I had two cars that did not
run, and no hope of getting them fixed
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Paula's Story
Mere words can not express how
I felt this morning, knowing that Hannah
and I did not have to get up at 6 a.m.
and ride the bus to get her to school.
Six hours just to get her to school ... continue > |
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Alesia's Story
Alesia S. knew life would change
when she and her family relocated from
California to Florida—but she had
no idea how much. While driving across
the country, their SUV rolled over on the
interstate ... continue > |
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Ebonie's Story
Before discovering Wheels of Success,
Ebonie B. was stretched between her child's
and employer's needs. Lacking personal
transportation, she relied on the well-meaning
but often inefficient city bus system ... continue > |
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Wendy's
Story
Last Thanksgiving, Wendy O. and
her family started a road trip to see relatives.
On the way, their vehicle caught fire and
was destroyed ... continue > |
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Rosa's
Story
When I came to Tampa a few years
ago, I was in love. I moved here to be
with my boyfriend, to create a new life
for our children and us. A year later,
I discovered that he’d been seeing
another woman the entire time I’d
been here ... continue > |
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Laura's Story
I was referred to Wheels of Success by
a temporary staffing agency. I was being offered
a permanent job at substantially more money but
my car had broken down and needed repair and I
was to start the new job in 3 days ... continue > |
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Tasha's Story
Wheels of Success has made me a success!
After coming to Tampa from last year's hurricanes,
as if starting a new life wasn't hard enough, my
car broke down beyond repair. For nearly a year,
my son and I took the bus to work ... continue > |
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Wheels
of Success is Tampa Bay's only 501(c)3 nonprofit organization
providing a full range of transportation solutions, including
vehicle replacement; car repair; and licensing, car payment and
down payment assistance to low and moderate income working families.