ANNUALREPORT

2014Tutor, Eileen McAndrews, with her 1st grade student at SHIELDS for Families

School on Wheels was founded in 1993 by Agnes Stevens, a retired schoolteacher, who understood the importance of education to homeless students – and the unique challenges they face. We were then, and we remain, the only organization in Southern California dedicated exclusively to the educational needs of this fragile population.

We are committed to the enhancement of educational opportunities for homeless children from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Our goal is to shrink the gaps in their education and provide them with the highest level of education possible. Our program serves as a consistent support system to homeless students at a time of great stress and fear. We bring the message to our students that they are cared about and important.

Our Mission

A message from President of the Board, Joshua Fein

Joshua A. Fein, PresidentChief Financial Officer, Property Management Associates, Inc.

Steven F. Dahlberg, TreasurerPresident, The Kissel Company, Inc.

Jackson GeorgeCreative Executive, Walt Disney Studios

Laurie Levit Educational Consultant

Cecil L. “Chip” MurrayProf. of Religion, University of Southern California

Board Members

Beong-Soo KimPartner, Jones Day

Jon Tomlin, Ph. D.Principal, Navigant Economics

Clifford Neiman, Secretary The Neiman Group Architects

Catherine MeekExecutive Director, School on Wheels

Janet Ambrosi-WertmanDevelopment Consultant

Mitchell LeibPresident of Music and Soundtracks, The Walt Disney Studios

OUR MISSION & HISTORY

Our History

2I challenge every person to do something in their community until there is no homeless child living on the streets, in a car, in a hotel, or in shelters.

- Agnes Stevens, Founder of School on Wheels“ ”

I am deeply honored to be the current Board Chair of School on Wheels. 2014 was another fantastic year. We exceeded our goals in both numbers of students tutored and volunteer hours while continuing to expand awareness of the plight of the children we serve. School on Wheels’ tutors spent tens of thousands of hours this year teaching subjects, encouraging learning, and providing stability and hope during a most difficult time in our students’ lives. School on Wheels changes the outcome of many lives. Our positive impact goes beyond families without homes; it extends to our society as a whole. Simply put, a more educated person is a more successful person. I want to thank all of those involved with School on Wheels, including our generous donors, gracious volunteers, and our tremendous staff and Board. It is you and your inspirational commitment to supporting the education of homeless children that creates a path to a brighter future. Your continued commitment and support is vital to the lives of our students. The education of these homeless children will create a brighter future for us all.

Joshua FeinPresident of the Board

Catherine Meek, Executive Director

OUR BESTYEAR YET

Dear Friends,

I am happy to report that, although this year was not without sadness, School on Wheels reached our most ambitious and challenging goal - doubling the number of homeless students we tutor to over 3,100! This was only accomplished because of your support, generosity, time and shared belief in our mission: to make educational success a reality for homeless children.

We lost our beloved Founder, Agnes Stevens, in February. Agnes was a visionary, an inspiration and a dear friend. She loved that we were helping so many kids supported by our growing number of volunteers, donors and partners. Her life was one of hope, of belief, of persistence and trust. She trusted us to continue her legacy - and we will.

In Agnes’ honor, we are creating the Founder’s Pledge. Please join us in pledging one hour a week to tutor a homeless child or pledge to raise $100 from 10 individuals. Although changing the world is seemingly impossible, changing the life of one homeless child is something you can definitely do. We know this. Read about Nicole and her tutor Marcia’s relationship, and 3rd grader Xavier’s progress on page 7.

Our new 3 year Strategic Plan, outlined on page 4, focuses on growth - the number of homeless children in just the school districts we serve has reached an all-time high of 163,435. To support our students educationally, we also need to prepare them for the digital world and encourage the development of grit, resilience, and effective stress management. And we are committed to becoming the Gold Standard of volunteer organizations - training, motivating, recognizing and appreciating our volunteers who are the heart of what we do.

We are living in times of negative discourse, inequitable economic progress, failing schools and soaring child and family homelessness. At a time of great anxiety and fear, School on Wheels continues to provide hope to our most vulnerable children. We are only able to pursue our goals and dreams because of you - our partners. Help us stay strong as we continue enhancing educational opportunities for homeless children and providing them with a chance at a bright future.

With deep appreciation,

3Working with the girls at the group home has taught me the value of just one person believing in someone else, and how mutually rewarding that relationship can be.

- Christina Crittenden, Occidental College Class of 2015“ ”

PROGRAM RESULTS

4

1,816Volunteers

5,460Backpacks

12Scholarships

Students

3,129

Santa Barbara County

Ventura County

Los Angeles County

Orange County

San Bernardino County

Riverside County

Looking Ahead to 2017Our new strategic plan builds on what we accomplished during the past three years to create a stronger and more hopeful future for our students. By the end of 2017, we plan to:

Increase the number of students we tutor to 4,000

Increase the number of volunteers to 3,100 with enhanced support

Integrate digital learning fully, giving all of our students access to technology

These are ambitious goals, as we believe they must be. We are incredibly grateful for your partnership, and we look forward to continuing our work together as we strive to educate the most vulnerable children in our communities. Together, we are changing lives.

School on Wheels serves homeless children across 6 counties in Southern California.

“ ”100% of students believe having a School on Wheels tutor has helped them in school. - School on Wheels 2014 student survey

OverviewIn 2014, 1,816 amazing volunteers tutored in over 150 locations throughout Southern California. They helped 3,129 homeless students learn to read, complete their homework, write essays, and provided friendship and encouragement. We also:

Distributed 5,460 brand-new backpacks filled with school supplies

Awarded 12 scholarships

Expanded our Digital Learning Program to include over 500 students

using online tutoring, adaptive learning programs and educational apps,

significantly improving our students’ performance

Partnered with Operation School Bell to provide 150 school uniforms

Partnered with LAUSD and FAME Corporation to provide

6,400 bus tokens

In addition to working closely with shelters, colleges and school

districts, we developed partnerships with great organizations like:

AmeriCorps VISTA California Science Center

The Da Vinci School Inner City Arts

Learn To Be Project Hope Alliance

SHIELDS for Families

5“ ”To me School on Wheels represents “paying it forward” and the idea of contagious compassion. -Keith Sakata, Tutor

Due to your generosity in 2014, we raised $1,609,228 – an increase of 15% over 2013 - which we put to good use, improving our program services and infrastructure.

Revenue:

Expenses:

FINANCIALRESULTS

of donations went directly to our

programs in 2014!

92%

FoundationsIndividualsCorporations and Corporate DonorsOrganizationsMaterial DonationsSpecial EventsInterest Income

Program ServicesAdministration

Fundraising

Foundations $963,915 59%Individuals $230,421 14%Corporations and Corporate Foundations $128,300 8%

Organizations $24,517 2%Material Donors $224,839 14%Special Events $29,185 2%Interest Income $8,051 1%

TOTAL $1,609,228 100%

Program Services $1,310,411 92%Administration $84,817 6%Fundraising $34,931 2%

TOTAL $1,430,159 100%

“ ”

6

You, our friends and partners, continue to inspire us to help our students succeed in their number one job as a child: going to school and learning. A listing of our generous donors of over $1,000 is below, and a full list can be viewed on the insert provided.

OUR FRIENDS

Gifts of $100,000+The Ahmanson FoundationWeingart FoundationWindsong Trust

Gifts of $50,000+ BCM FoundationGesner-Johnson Family FoundationThe Green FoundationThe Mark Hughes FoundationThe Ralph M. Parsons Foundation

Gifts of $20,000+ Anonymous DonorDora Freedman Levit Fund for PeopleGeorge Levit Joseph Drown Foundation The Louis & Harold Price Foundation, Inc.Pechanga Resort & CasinoRGK FoundationSawchuk Family FoundationSteven & Stephanie Dahlberg

Gifts of $10,000+ Bowen H. & Janice Arthur McCoy Charitable FoundationCarrie Estelle Doheny FoundationDwight Stuart Youth FundElizabeth JaskoskiJackson & Jasmine GeorgeJK Barker FoundationMonsantoNorris FoundationScott Family Foundation, Inc.Shrontz Family FoundationSteve EdwardsThe Thomas and Dorothy Leavey FoundationWilliam C. Bannerman Foundation

Gifts of $5,000+Anonymous DonorThe Allergan FoundationBeong-Soo Kim & Bonnie WongtrakoolCarlson Family FoundationCatherine Meek & Al EarleChad MillerCheryl & James FurlanEducation for Humanity USAEmployees Community Fund of Boeing CaliforniaEssentials of Emergency Medicine/Hippo Education, Inc.Fremantle MediaInstantlyInSync & Bemis BalkindJames & Sharyn MooreJarrod & Catherine PhillipsJon & Elaine TomlinJosh Fein & MaryJo LauterioThe Kroger Co. Foundation / RalphsThe Looker Foundation Laurie Levit & Steven AdesLynn Gardner & Paul Multari Nathan for YouSAGE Publications, Inc.Southern California EdisonSt. Bernardine of Siena ChurchSteve JablonskyWasserman Foundation

Gifts of $2,000+ABS Foundation, INC.The Adam Frand FoundationCarol HannahComerica BankCreative Group, Inc.David & Kathy SiegelDonna & Scott PrestonFrederick R. Weisman Philanthropic FoundationJason PritchettJohn & Carolyn MarshallThe Kleiner Cohen FoundationLark Ellen Lions CharitiesLois & Stephen BaarMatt & Meghan MichalovskyMehrdad KoupaiMichelle MeehanThe Neiman Group ArchitectsNorman SchielePicture Head, LLCPipkin Charitable FoundationRobert & Ann BuxbaumS.M. & S.L. Cobin

Gifts of $1,000+Alice YoonAndre ZimmermanArianne NeumarkBrigid O’Connor & Kevin VollmerBrigitte & Hart HansonCarl E. Wynn FoundationCovington Capital ManagementDavid ChowellerDevan & Tara Marshall

How can you not support School on Wheels? Participating in helping kids get a fair chance to succeed and contribute to the world is a gift itself!

- Steve Edwards, TV Host, Good Day LA“ ”

Special thanks to Paradise Cove, Malibu

Thank you as always to our friends, Steve Dahlberg, Bob & Kerry Morris and Glen Gerson for hosting the Annual Holiday Party

for over 200 students!

Douglas ParkerFortress Invest Group, LLC.Fricka LingHenry ReynoldsJoseph FarnanKiwanis Club of Calabasas Agoura FoundationLiane MingMark JasonMatthew SolariMax HoMelissa ZukermanThe Morty Frank Memorial Fund Nathan ParkhillPeter CherninThe PIMCO FoundationPistol Lake, Inc.Richard KrattSanta Monica Bay Woman's Club, Inc.Sempra Energy FoundationSouthwest Airlines-LAX Culture CommitteeStar LeSusan ManilowTimothy & Rachel WhiteToyota 100 Cars For GoodUnitarian Universalist Church of Long BeachVentura County Community FoundationWells Fargo Foundation / Wells Fargo Pacific PalisadesWilliam MikelsonYvonne Derse

STAR STUDENTS AND TUTORS

7

Lyann (4th grade) is originally from Belize and talks about the country and her family there often. Lyann struggles with reading and has some difficulties hearing. Even with these

challenges and frustrations, her attitude is amazing and she never (ok, rarely) gives up. She truly likes school. Her favorite subjects are math and art.

- Nancy Dobbs Owen, Tutor

Luka (3rd Grade) is super smart and passionate. He is so eager to learn and my job seems to be giving him the confidence to realize this. I love seeing the world through his eyes. I only hope he is learning as much from me as I am from him.“ ”- Terri Czapleski, Tutor

“Sheena, did you see my grades online? I got a 16/14 on my history quiz!” Receiving text messages like this is what makes me look forward to tutoring Omar (7th grade) every week. He has

demonstrated A’s and B’s in all his classes and is great at setting his exam study schedules. The time I get to spend with Omar is an absolute pleasure!

- Sheena Singh, Tutor

At our introductory meeting

Nicole (3rd grade) and I

pointed at one another

shrieking, “I KNOW YOU!!”

(we had met at another

shelter that summer). Nicole

was faced with starting

a new school (again) and

expressed an indifference

that was part of having gone

through the experience more than once. At tutoring

sessions, our goal is to get homework done so there

will be time for fun stuff! I’m also very, very proud

and excited for her wonderful mother, Tanya, who has

recently earned her GED. – Marcia Rothman, Tutor

Brenda (8th grade) walks into our sessions bouncing and chattering, even after a full day of school! What I have come to love most about being a tutor is the familiarity that builds

between student and tutor over time and the consistency that lends to a more natural, free and truly fun learning environment for both parties involved.

- Mary Schuberg, Tutor

Natalie (3rd Grade) has a tenacious quest for learning that is a rare quality. On her first tutoring day she said, ‘Can I tell you something?’ I stopped and looked into her big brown eyes and she

said, ‘I’ve never passed a math test. I’m not smart.’ We spent the next 15 minutes talking about the difference between ‘not being smart’ and ‘not learning concepts.’”

- Karen McCarthy, Tutor

Xavier, (3rd Grade) has shown an incredible amount of progress since he arrived at the shelter. Initially, he seemed hesitant about tutoring. We realized that he was embarrassed that he

couldn’t read yet. Two months later, I was so happy to see that he was slowly reading his own book… and he was smiling!

- Lilian Pahn, Regional Coordinator

Phone: 805.641.1678Fax: 805.641.1686administration@schoolonwheels.orgwww.schoolonwheels.org

P.O. Box 23371Ventura, CA 93002

“After graduating from the University of California, Irvine, I found myself in search of ways to give back to the community. I googled ‘tutoring opportunities’ and stumbled across School on Wheels. To my surprise it was exactly what I was looking for!”- Marshae Franklin, Tutor, South Los Angeles

“Volunteering has changed my life. It has allowed me to find more compassion in my heart for others, helped me grow as a student and continues to challenge me in my commitment to helping my community.”

- Keegan Farrell, Tutor, Highland Park

“My parents have always stressed the importance of education to me; so, naturally I grew up with a passion for learning. While searching for volunteer opportunities I discovered School on Wheels and when I read the mission I knew it was an organization I wanted to be a part of.”

-Sarah Gonzalez, Tutor Coordinator, Whittier

“What I like best about tutoring is that I get to be a constant in a child’s life that is so filled with uncertainty. I love teaching, and to have the time to work one-on-one with a child every week is wonderful.”

-Elisabeth Egelko, Tutor, Ventura

“I loved school when I was a child. For me it was an escape from an unfortunate home life, much like the situations that our students have. I became a tutor because I like to see “the lights go on” for a student...being there for the moment a student understands a new concept and makes a connection to the excitement of learning.”

- Gwen Roberts, Tutor, Los Angeles

“I decided to volunteer because I wanted to give back to others. Education is such a powerful tool to a better life. It goes hand-in-hand with mentorship; people who educate also support and encourage. I wanted to be a part of this process, knowing full well that I am making a long-term investment in a homeless student’s future.”

- Andrew Park, Tutor, Long Beach

SCHOOL ON WHEELS DONOR HONOR ROLL 2014

Gifts of $500+ Adam & Debra Silbar Ajay Patel Alison Plessman Andres DeLuna Ashita Bhatt Assessment Appeal Advisors LLC / Commercial Realty Consultants, Inc. The Boeing Company Brendan O'Donnell Burbank Kiwanis for Fun Foundation Inc. Catherine Hartmann Chris Goodman Crispin Porter + Bogusky Daniel Bath & Lori Miller David & Linnea Wile David Hookom David Schneiderman Donald & Ellen Raab Eileen & Mike McAndrews Elizabeth Dexter Fred & Charlotte Pienkos Giaronomo Productions Gina McGuire GlobalGiving Foundation Inc. Harold Robinson Harriet & Richard Orkand Family Educational & Charitable Foundation Helen Greene Jason Mayling Jay Kim Joshua Kurz Julie & John Mork Kandari Homayoun Lora D. Martinolich Maike Both Mark Noah Elaine Lasnik-Broida & Michael Broida Michael Earnhardt Michele Barinsky Patricia Shen Phil Sprawls Philip Daccord Rana Khankan Raul Lomeli Reyna Soriano RHN Company Rising Star Robin & Jeremy Levine RollGiving & Paramount Community Giving Seidman Family Foundation Steven Thomas Suzanne Hahn Taryn & Tim O'Neil Terry Harstad Thomas Molloy Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura Vance and Hines Viewpoint Educational Foundation VmWare Foundation West Covina Emblem Club No 299 William Miller

Gifts of $200+

Anonymous Donor A.C. Israel Foundation, Inc. Adam & Natasha Schiff Alexandra Nadjarian Alton & Carol Schick Amgen Foundation Matching Gifts & Staff Benjamin Goldfarb Beverly Lee Rosenthal Bill & Kate Wunner BNY Mellon The Boeing Company Employee Individual Giving Program Brad Anderson Bryan & Lois Feuer Bunny Saavedra-Leslie Catherine McAuley Meek Charles & Joan Howe Christopher & Teresa Cabrera Cynthia Tudball Hensley Daniel Pacheco David & Barbara Elson Delores Einhorn Diana Pray Dun Foundation Edward Levin Edwards Lifesciences Elizabeth Miller Ellen Elise Lamar Emily Castel Gary Panas Gloria Camacho Grassroots Acoustica Foundation Gregory Harris Jacquelyn Coulter Janet & Adlai Ambrosi-Wertman Jean Vander Horst Jeanette Equihua Jeanne Allen Miller Jeffery Smith Jennifer Pfeifer

Jesse Morales Jigarkumar Patel Jock Scott John Catanzaro John Tomas Dye School Julie Henderson Karl Feng Kathie Marder Kathleen Jones Kitchen Gardeners International Kiwanis Club of Hacienda Heights Foundation Laura Rittenberg Lenore Norton

Gifts of $200+ Leslie Oren Lois & Gary Ingham Margaret Barfield Margaret Bushee Margaret Mannion Mark & Christine Duttweiler Mark Gerard Mary Auth Mary Ellen Morel Maud-Ann & Paul Sunderland Michael & Michelle Schreibman Michael Libow Michael Stars and Cohen Family Foundation Michelle Schoenfeld Morgan & Helen Chu Nancy Dahlberg Pardee Properties Paul Morales Paula Poundstone Pei Sue Ong Praneet Panga Ralf Hempfling Rebecca Lyon Reverend Cecil "Chip" Murray Rica Rodman Rina Amatya Robert Friedman Robert Maitino Roland Hatzenpichler Roni Spitzer Sal Sardo Screen Engine Simone Maudhui Simple Health Acupuncture Spa Escape St. Maximilian Kolbe Church Project Response Starlette & Martha Ferguson Steve Han Steven & Kristine Klein T.W. & Connie J. Jenkins Tim Yuan Tom Belcher Tom Frew Tom Gottlieb UHDLT Inc. United Methodist Church of Westlake Village Verizon Foundation Virginia Tanawong Westside Quilters William & Susan Tinkley Women's Fellowship Manhattan Beach Community Church

You, our friends and partners, continue to inspire us to help our

students succeed in their number one job as a child: going to school

and learning. Thank you for all your contributions.

Gifts of $100+ Anonymous Donor Adam Fenton Adam Scott Aileen Budow Aiting Tung Alexis G. Crump, a Professional Corp. Allan Hollingsworth Amelia Troiano Andreas May Andrew Cohen Andrew Hoff Andrew Kwatinetz Andrew Manning Andrew Solomon Ann Herring Anthony Infante Arlene Thornton & Jack Angel Arnold Bazensky Asma Lat Babette Kubota Barbara Dockrill Barbara Sato Bernadette Lee Bertrand Lipworth Brian D. Polhill Bridget Bray Bryna Lane California Pizza Kitchen. Inc. The Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation Carrie Davis Lebovich Chris Tankersley Chubb & Son Cindi Brashear Clarissa & William Garlington Cole Ynda Corey Lafferty Craig Blois Crystal Meers Dallon Mahoney Daniel Kang Darren & Sinéad Chilton David & Patty Dowdey David Friedman David Schulman Dean Decent Debbie Dahlberg Debby Wapner Deirdre Skolfield Dianne Salzberg Donna Chase Donna Wallace Elaine Hennessey Elizabeth & Barry Weiner Elizabeth Chamberlain Elizabeth Tarpinian Elliot Freier Erica Teti-Zilinskas Ernest & Carolyn Siracusa Ethel Bergman Eva Slearnes Evelyn Taylor Fred Manaster Fred Ritzel Frederique Eisenbach Gateway Foursquare Church George & Patricia Lawhead Gisela Lloyd Glenn Gall Gregory & Karen Loucks Hal George Harry & Carole Kuruma Heather Goulet Henry & Helen Katz Herman & Lenore Rottenberg Foundation, Inc. Hobart Taylor IVC Global Sports & Entertainment, LLC Izabela Salca Jacqueline Jung James Brock James Gorham James Keaton Jay Shafran Jeanne Evans Jeffrey Roden

Gifts of $100+ Jeremy Radisich Joe & Sylvia Burns Joseph Daverin John & Pharida Long Josh Strater Judi & Donald Unruh Julie Salek Julie Stueck Kevin Goetz Kristan Altimus Kristi Reynolds Laura O'Donnell Laurie Bernhard Lisa Lucht Lisa Rabin Lorraine Secor Mara Klug Marissa Griffith Maritza Alverez Mark Elliott Mark Nudelman Marta & Fred Samulon Maureen Weston Mei-Ling Hsieh Merilee Oakes Michael & Maggie Pierson Michael D. Buckland Michael Jung Michael Ruvo Michael Weiner Microsoft Corporation Microvention, Inc. Nancy Oliver Nati Vasquez Niko Matouschek Pamela Porcaro Patricia Cosgrove Patricia Meek Patricia Wooldridge Patty Hayes Peggy Goodman Peter Benoliel Regina Mills Rene Rodarte Richard & Anne Rose Richard & Robyn Ross Rita Alexander Rita Goodman Robert Levey Ronald Thompson Rosalind Frank Rose Johnson Samantha & Kip Lockwood Sandhya Chandrasekhar Sandra Wise Sara Garcia & Mark Hanson Sara Sauder Sherry Grguric Simon Gutman Stacy Barger Stephen Hotchkiss & Audra Lembertas Steven Leighton Steven Schultz Sue Overdevest Sue Torf Sumy Takesue Susan Hartman Susan Slutzky Sydney Williams Tammy Lindberg Taryn O'Neill Teri Stein Terry Pyle Thais Greco Thomas & Betty Saliba Timothy Foy UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies Vicki Christianson Wanda Cecchi Wendy Burke William & Hope Lischak William Blaney William Rothbard Xochitl Ortega Yung Kim

Material Donors

Aargam Grigoryan Adam & Debra Silbar Alexandra Real Estate Equities Inc. Alice Kessler Andrea & Henry Burroughs Andrea Reese Beverly Seger Big Brothers, Big Sisters Los Angeles Bindu Suresh & Anju Sreedharan Brenda Farfan Coca-Cola Refreshments Daisy Troop #61688 Delta Kappa Gamma Society Int. - Alpha Upsilon Chapter Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Dora L. International Erin Crenshaw Essentials of Emergency Medicine/Hippo Education, Inc. Excel Fashion America Gateway Foursquare Church Ian Chan Imperial Toy, LLP Isabel Lacayo Jason Lim Jason Ward Jim & Gunilla DeArkland John Tomas Dye School Kehillat Israel Early Childhood Center Kiran Goraya Mack & Jill Kenny Marco Masoni Mark & Michelle Butler-Blackham Meagan Clark Milo and Olive Monique Floyd Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church NBC Universal The Neiman Group Architects Oaks Christian Olive Garden Operation School Bell, Assistance League of Los Angeles Pacific Edge Real Estate Paige & Holland Henton Patagonia Peter Zhou The Reo Bakpak Company & Friends Rhonda Carter Rosemary Oliva Ross Stores Inc., LA Buying Office Sage Publications, Inc. Scott Bennett Sharyn & Audrey Church St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church St. Hedwig School Sweet Rose Creamery Sylvia Li Temple Judea UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies University Church of Christ Valley View Elementary Ventura Missionary School Yasmin Cader Yoko Washkewicz *Major Material Donor

Special thank you to all donors too numerous to list who contributed $1 to $99.

www.schoolonwheels.org