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Program Helps Clients On Road To Success

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By STEPHEN HAMMILL, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 4, 2007

TAMPA - Wheels of Success has a mission statement that can be defined by a simple, two-word phrase: dependable transportation.

The program, which supplies working families with car care/repair services and vehicles, held a special event Monday morning at The Family Justice Center, 9309 N. Florida Ave. Fifty families came to see their cars for the first time.

'There are people out there who want to work, or who are working but may lose their jobs because they just can't get there,' said Susan Jacobs, CEO of Wheels of Success. 'This is another way for folks to sustain their independence.'

The families pay toward full ownership of the vehicles. In order to qualify for the program, recipients must be working full time.

Tampa ranks first in the country for transportation costs, according to figures provided by Jacobs. 'The bus system HART is not only inadequate, it doesn't run in the evening or on holidays when many employees need it,' she said.

Jacobs started the program in 2003 and estimates it has helped more than 180 families. 'We are not a government-funded agency,' she said. 'We do this through donations and volunteer hours.'

Jacobs said it takes between $500 and $1,000 to get each refurbished car up and running. That job falls to partners DLT Wholesale, which repairs the cars at cost.

Most of the donated cars come from the 1990s - nothing fancy, but all reliable. 'We had a Corolla, a Camry, a Windstar van, a pick-up truck - you name it,' said Jacobs.

Clients buy the vehicles from the program. They pay what they can and are required to donate hours to the organization in return. It's part of the organization's pay-it-forward philosophy.
Karen Olsen started as a volunteer with Wheels of Success, donating 500 hours in her first year. Now she is operations manager.

'It's a blessing to work here,' Olsen said. 'The people are so grateful, and so deserving. When you have to take two buses to get to work every day - that shows ambition and drive. We want to reward that.'

Reporter Stephen Hammill can be reached at (813) 865-1523 or at shammill@tampatrib.com.

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