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School on Wheels Press Contact
Sinead Chilton
805.641.1678
For Immediate Release
School on Wheels #GivingTuesday initiative is to Give the Gift of Hope
School on Wheels Joins the National #GivingTuesday Movement
To Encourage Spending With A Purpose
California, November 26th 2013, School on Wheels has joined #Giving Tuesday, a first of its kind effort that will harness the collective power of a unique blend of partners - charities, families, businesses and individuals - to transform how people think about, talk about and participate in the giving season. Coinciding with the Thanksgiving Holiday and the kickoff of the holiday shopping season #GivingTuesday will inspire people to take collaborative action to improve their local communities, give back in better, smarter ways to the charities and causes they support and help create a better world.
Taking place December 3, 2013 -Tuesday after Thanksgiving - #GivingTuesday will harness the power of social media to create a national movement around the holidays dedicated to giving. (Similar to how Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become days that are, today, synonymous with holiday shopping.)
"#GivingTuesday is a great way to highlight the amazing work nonprofits are doing around the country. This is the season to give and we hope communities will rally to support their favorite charity, whether through a financial donation or volunteering. School on Wheels relies on the support of over 1,500 volunteers annually and they give their time to our homeless students freely and consistently. We want to thank them and ask our community to support what we do and stand for - ending homelessness through education."
Catherine Meek, Executive Director of School on Wheels
School on Wheels #GivingTuesday initiative is to Give the Gift of Hope
Currently, more than 6,000 corporate and nonprofit organizations have committed to participate in the initiative. #GivingTuesday is endorsed by Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy, Dorothy A. Johnson Center on Philanthropy, Giving Institute, Giving USA Foundation and InterAction. Charity Navigator, Givewell and Guidestay are serving as Charity Advisors. VolunteerMatch is a volunteer advisor to #GivingTuesday.
"#GivingTuesday is a counter narrative to Black Friday and Cyber Monday because it reminds us that the spirit of the holiday giving season should be about community and not just consumerism," said Kathy Calvin, CEO of the UN Foundation. "The most meaningful gift we give our children, loved ones, friends and neighbors is the commitment to work together to help build a better world."
Those interested in joining School on Wheel #GivingTuesday initiative can visit:
For more details about the #GivingTuesday movement, visit www.givingtuesday.org or follow #GivingTuesday and the #GivingTuesday hashtag on Twitter.
School on Wheels, Inc. is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1993 by Agnes Stevens, a retired teacher. After reading Jonathan Kozol's Rachel and her Children, Agnes realized the extent of homelessness in the USA. She began tutoring homeless kids in a park in Santa Monica, encouraging them to stay in school and participate in school activities.
Today, hundreds of volunteers work one-on-one with children whose homelessness prevents them from receiving the academic stability and help they desperately need. The heart of the School on Wheels' program is the volunteer tutors who come from all backgrounds and professions, with a shared goal - to reach out to a child, to teach, to mentor, and assist in their educational life.
The mission of School on Wheels is to enhance educational opportunities for homeless children from kindergarten through twelfth grade. The goal is to shrink the gaps in their education and provide them with the highest level of education possible. Their program serves as a consistent support system to homeless students at a time of great stress and fear. School on Wheels brings the message to homeless students that they are cared about and important. They do this by offering:
- One-on-one weekly tutoring with a volunteer
- Backpacks, school supplies and school uniforms
- A toll-free number for kids to keep in touch with us
- (800-923-1100)
- Assistance in entering school
- Help in locating lost records
- Guidance for parents in educational matters for their children
- Two Learning Centers, one located in the heart of Skid Row and the other in South Los Angeles
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Tutoring in seven major regions in Southern California, including Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
About #GivingTuesday
PRESS CONTACT
School on Wheels, Inc.
Sinead Chilton
805.641.1678
schilton@schoolonwheels.org
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