Waiting for Wheels
From huge life challenges, Cerebral Palsy, Abuse, Self Rescue, Homelessness to Entrepreneur.
She just needs her "Keys to Success"...
Tori has faced BIG challenges her whole life but she has never let them hold her back. Her father passed away when she was only 18-months old, leaving her mom a widow at just 23. Then barely 6 months later she was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.
Tori has been an entrepreneur since she started Utoria, at 14 years old. Her entrepreneurial spirit came from watching her mom struggle and fight her way out of poverty. Seeing her mother doing everything she could to afford the best possible treatments, by getting a great job at a local college and starting her own accounting firm in her (very little) spare time.
Eventually her mother remarried and had her little brother Logan, who was diagnosed with autism. After a while it became apparent that her stepfather was abusive. At the age of 17 she set a goal to generate enough profits to move her mom and brother away from their abuser to paradise, aka Tampa Bay Florida. But their abuser had a tighter grip on her mother than she could have ever imagined. Her mom turned on her in support of her abusive husband. Her mother took all of her belongings, including her phone and laptop, cleared out all her bank accounts and also kicked her out of their home.
Tori was homeless for about 6 weeks and struggled with the deepest, darkest depression she had ever experienced. Extreme financial struggle and severe malnutrition eventually led to her collapsing and experiencing the first seizure she had ever had.
"Rebuilding from the ground up has been the biggest challenge that I've faced yet but I am so extremely grateful for the experience and determined to overcome! I am on a mission to not only bounce back to where I was, but to exceed and surpass that to grow even bigger, better, more impactful businesses than ever before."
Now Tori is rebuilding her life as a 19 year old entrepreneur and most recently founded VOLT, a push communications SaaS agency. A Wheels of Success "New to Her" reliable vehicle will give her, her "Keys to Success" by enabling her to attend meetings, events and other business obligations needed to grow her business.
Diana has 3 beautiful children and works as a respiratory therapist at a local hospital making transportation an extreme challenge for her without her own vehicle. As a respiratory therapist, her hours don't always coincide with the local bus schedules.
Tanya (not her real name to protect her identity) currently resides in a residential program for young girls that are victims of human trafficking. They provide her with basic necessities, as well as treatment for alcohol and drug abuse. Through their Vocational Rehabilitation Services, she has landed a life changing position as an apprentice with a local florist. She works alongside their top designers creating everything from simple nosegays to intricate, formal arrangements.
Lindsay is a brave and courageous young woman who witnessed a horrific attack and intervened to save the woman's life. The victim was being attacked and stabbed by her ex boyfriend. Lindsay was nearby and heard the screams, so she ran over to help and called the police.
Wheels of Success has used the fictitious name "Latoya" in this article to protect her identity as a domestic violence survivor.
Latoya's supervisor contacted Wheels when he discovered she had resorted to spending $184 a week on rental cars so that she would not be late or absent from her job, when her car broke down and was no longer worth fixing. He states that he knows of "No one more deserving for a Wheels' vehicle". He is looking forward to attending the presentation when Latoya receives her vehicle.
Wheels of Success has used the fictitious name "Kaitlin" in this article to protect her identity as a domestic violence survivor.
The first to sign up for a Wheels' volunteer opportunity. even though she's waiting for a vehicle. A hard worker with a determination to turn things around and rise above her homelessness, caused by a domestic violence situation, Kaitlin has recently been referred to Wheels by The Spring of Tampa Bay for a vehicle that will enable her to not only continue working full time, but attend school in the evenings. Her dream is to become a CNA.
The Rich Family came to Tampa from Tennessee to receive care for Brandon at the James A Haley Medical Center. Brandon is a decorated infantryman with the US Army, serving four 15 month tours in Iraq. At the James A Haley Medical Center, Brandon will receive care for cancer, his wartime injuries and PTSD and will participate in their Work Therapy Program.
Having Found Her Road to Success; She is Just Waiting For The Keys!
When T.G. and her daughter were first referred to Wheels, she realized she wasn't quite ready for the expenses of vehicle ownership and decided to wait before participating in the program.
Alexis, a HCC EMT student and an employee at Amalie Arena needs a vehicle to timely commute between work, home and school.