What's New with School on Wheels?
Read below to see all of our recent news articles and the awards we've been given.
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School on Wheels Party Weekend
11/15/2008
Volunteers and Friends:
In the 2008 election there was a lot of talk of change from all the presidential candidates. On November 4th many voted for change, but far fewer change the world for the better on a weekly basis like you do. Thank you.
The 2008 election also saw record numbers of volunteers and donations. Knowing how generous School on Wheels volunteers are, many of you and your friends may have participated in fundraising and volunteer activities for your candidate of choice. Now that the election is over, join us in encouraging our friends to keep up this spirit of service and change. Throw a School on Wheels Party!
The first weekend in December (12/5, 12/6, and 12/7) will be the first annual School on Wheels Party Weekend. We would like as many of our volunteers as possible to throw a party—big or small—and ask attendees to think about the change needed for our homeless children in Southern California. Party-goers can drop money/checks in a jar for our cause, sign up to volunteer, or just learn about the great work you are doing to change the life of a child.
Sign up to throw a School on Wheels Party by replying to this email and we’ll give you a SOW Party Kit which includes:
• Flyers
• Brochures
• Packs of SOW holiday cards (to give away for a small donation)
• Bumper stickers
• Magazines featuring SOW
• Squeezie buses
• And more!
Now that you’ve rocked the vote help us rock Southern California on December 5, 6, and 7! Spread the word about the tens of thousands of homeless children in our neighborhoods and have a great time for a great cause.
For more information please do not hesitate to contact, Matt Raab, Program Leader(213) 896-9200
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1st Annual 5K Fun Run
11/9/2008
On Sunday November 9th, 2008 on a unusually blustery Malibu Morning, Team School on Wheels gathered at Zuma Beach, Malibu for a 5K FUN RUN to raise awareness and money for homeless students in Southern California.
Makenzi Rosman of 7th Heaven fame started the race and 20 runners set off to raise more than $4000 for homeless children. The money raised is going to be used to purchase holiday gifts for over 600 homeless children in our community.
Agnes Stevens (72), Executive Director and Founder of School on Wheels had this to say about the event:
"If you can't fly, then run. If you can't run, then walk. If you can't walk, then crawl.
But whatever you do, keep moving." - Martin Luther King, Jr. 'that is what I was doing - barely kept moving! Well, the winds were blowing quite hard; the sand was in our hair, face, eyes, mouth, shoes and everywhere else. It was great. A fun job well done everyone!!
Runners, in no particular order: Jake Gutierrez, Jennifer Jimenez, Agnes Stevens, Catherine Meek, Darren Chilton, Matt Raab, Paula Buxbaum, Rosemary Oliva, Ruth Granados, Janet Settles, Natasha Bayus, Jonas Bayus, Blue Mc Donnell, Esteban Martinez, Patrick Hafferty, Sinead Chilton, Sandie and Dick Haverick and special thanks to cheerleader and photographer Al Earle.
Click 'View Whole Story' below to see the photos from the race.
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World's Children's Prize for the Rights of the Child (WCPRC)
11/5/2008
6,593,335 children, who have participated in a Global Vote, have chosen Somaly Mam, Cambodia, as laureates of the Global Friend's Award! The international jury of children also awarded the World's Children's Prize to Somaly Mam! The World’s Children’s Honorary Award went to Agnes Stevens, USA and Josefina Condori, Peru.
Josefina Condori, Peru and Agnes Stevens, USA receive children’s honorary awards.
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Brentwood Art Center Silent Auction
10/10/2008
A big thank you to The Brentwood Art Center for hosting our 1st Annual Silent Auction Exhibit, held on October 10, 2008.
Over 100 pieces of ArtWork, created by faculty, staff and students were up for auction. It turned out to be a very successful evening. Many of our West Side tutors came, bought pictures and helped with the cleaning up ( thank you Robin and Phil). We also raised some money. The grand total for the evening was $7,750. Thank you to School on Wheels staff members, Blue McDonnell and Janet Settles, for all your hard work to make this event happen. We are all looking forward to next year’s auction. Special thanks to Athena Kwey for suggesting the idea in the first place.
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School on Wheels Radio Interview
9/7/2008
On Sunday September 7th 2008, Steve Hibbert, Tutor Coordinator for School on Wheels was interviewed by On Air Talent and Public Affairs Director Mike Powers for LA Radio Station 100.3 The Sound.
Mike Powers hosts a community affairs show every Sunday called the "5900 Wilshire" Steve was invited to join Mike on the show to talk about School on Wheels, what we offer the community and how people can get involved. Click below to listen to the interview, it may take a few minutes to download.
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KCAL 9: School on Wheels Help Homeless Kids Learn
9/6/2008
Pat Harvey wins an Emmy September 6th 2008, for her report on School on Wheels back in February of 2007
Congratulations and Thank you Pat from all at School on Wheels, keep up the Good work!
60th LA Area Emmy Awards
LIGHT NEWS STORY – SINGLE REPORT
SCHOOL ON WHEELS
(KCAL9 NEWS AT TEN) KCAL9
Pat Harvey, Reporter
Farbod Mirfakhrai, Editor
Karen Foshay Kolesnikow, Producer
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School on Wheels 15th Anniversary
8/20/2008
On Wednesday August 20th, 2008 School on Wheels, Inc. celebrated 15 years of service to homeless children throughout Southern California. Agnes Stevens (Children's Nobel Laureate and Founder of School on Wheels) invited tenured volunteer tutors, Board, Staff members and Friends to join her for lunch to mark this special day.
Front Row: Barbara Rude, Agnes Stevens, Joanne Kusulas
Middle Row: Sinead Chilton, Linda Huddle, Orenda Warren, Martina Kuhfal, Sandie Haverick, Steve Hibbert, Matt Raab, Catherine Meek, Janet Settles
Back Row: Akane Nishimura, Rosemary Oliva, Steven Dahlberg, Terry Harstad, Andrew Esbenshade.
School on Wheels began in 1993 when Agnes Stevens, a retired teacher, read a book that changed her life. The book was about homeless families in the US. Agnes was shocked to learn that hundreds of thousands of children were homeless and that many of them did not attend school. She began teaching homeless kids in a park in Santa Monica, California encouraging them to stay in school and keep up with their grades and school activities.
Today, hundreds of volunteers work one-on-one with children whose homelessness prevents them from getting the academic stability and help they so desperately need. The heart of the School on Wheels' programs are the volunteer tutors who come from all backgrounds and professions, with one agenda only - to reach out to a child, to mentor them, and assist in their educational life.
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School on Wheels Receives Grant from NBC Foundation
7/31/2008
The NBC Universal Foundation awarded $400,000 in grants to seven outstanding local non-profit organizations that work directly with middle and high school students in Southern California. A Place Called Home, ENCOMPASS, Girls, Inc., Heart of Los Angeles, Salesian Boys & Girls Club, School on Wheels and WriteGirl received checks in a ceremony held at Universal Studios Hollywood theme park on Thursday, July 31st. The grants are part of a $1.2 million dollar NBC Universal Foundation commitment to 29 non-profit organizations in six cities: Chicago, Dallas, Miami, New York, Washington, DC and here in Los Angeles.
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Support for School on Wheels
7/2/2008
Malibu Times - School on Wheels receives gift cards totalling $1500 from OfficeMax
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School on Wheels' student Ricky receives 'most inspiring student award'
5/31/2008
Rickey Caldwell, School on Wheels student, made the front page of the Long Beach newspaper on 5/31 after being awarded as one of Long Beach's most inspiring students. He also received a few letters from the California & US Congress congratulating him.
His tutor Chris Bryant notifed us of his success and said "I'm very proud and he continues to make progress". Well done to both of you!
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Ventura County Star
5/27/2008
School on Wheels tutors homeless students for free. Program helps kids keep up with their studies..
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CNN World Report
5/10/2008
CNN World Report, within its Women issues theme broadcasts a piece on The World's Children's Prize for the Rights of the Child. Agnes Stevens along with the two other laureates of the World Children's Prize for the Rights of a Child 2008, Somaly Maam and Josefina Condori are interviewed on CNN.
HRM Queen Silvia of Sweden smilingly says: "I would say it is a Child Nobel Prize Ceremony".
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South Los Angeles Learning Center
5/9/2008
On Monday May 15th , 2008 friends, tutors, staff and students were present to witness the official opening of our new South Los Angeles Learning Center.
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The 3rd Street Elementary School Olympics
5/9/2008
On Saturday, June 14th, Janet Settles and Paula Buxbaum represented School on Wheels at The 3rd Street Elementary School Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
General Nutrition Centers (GNC) provided the school with 800+ empty backpacks and each student in the school was given a backpack and asked to fill it with new school supplies to bring to the event as their admission ticket
School on Wheels would like to say a big Thank you to all the students, parents and teachers, that participated and for filling the backpacks with such beautiful school supplies. We are now busy distributing the backpacks to homeless children living in shelters, motels, and group foster homes throughout Southern California.
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Malibu's School on Wheels founder nominated for Children's World prize
4/10/2008
Agnes Stevens, founder of School on Wheels, the volunteer tutoring organization that mentors homeless children, is headed to Sweden this month.
She has been nominated for the World's Children's Prize for the Rights of the Child, sometimes known as the "children's Nobel Peace Prize," for her "20-year struggle for homeless children in the USA."
"I have no idea who nominated us," Stevens said. "And, really, it's not a competition. The other two people who have been nominated have helped children in extraordinarily dangerous circumstances. We're just honored to be included
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Making a Difference report - NBC Nightly News
3/14/2008
March 14 2008: Thanks to the efforts of one retired schoolteacher, "School on Wheels" helps the children of the homeless in Los Angeles keep up in school. NBC's George Lewis reports.
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On Skid Row - The Kids face Overwhelming Odds. Part 2 of 5
2/24/2008
On Skid Row: Kids
Video By Lindsay Utz, Sam Slovick
Franklin Arburtha carries the mantle of disenfranchised youth on Skid Row. But the deck is stacked against anyone who's lived here—especially the children.
Students and staff from School on Wheels interviewed for this piece. Please watch this very powerful video.
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Webindia123
2/23/2008
3 children activists shortlisted for World's Children's Prize
New Delhi | Saturday, Feb 23 2008 IST
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Skid row school program gets $20K in computers
1/2/2008
12th February 2008
The Good News Foundation and Office Max made the donation of computers and school supplies to School on Wheels. Harold Greene reports.
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Tutoring program helps kids in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties
1/1/2008
The School on Wheels program is helping homeless do well in school by sending volunteer tutors into shelter, motels and wherever else the kids are staying..Report by Lance Orosco KCLU News, February 5th 2008
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KNBC News: Homeless Special
12/29/2007
Homeless Students: Forgotten Neighbors
They live in shelters, motels and the streets -- 30,000-plus homeless students trapped in a chaotic world. Kim Baldonado explores the hard fought battle to keep them in school and their plight of surviving the streets.
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Good News Foundation
12/3/2007
At a wonderful, fun luncheon in Santa Monica, The Good News Foundation presented Agnes Stevens and School on Wheels with a check for $10,000. And if that wasn't enough, Office Max filled a truck with computers, school supplies, backpacks and all sorts of amazing wish list items. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
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Salvation Army Shelter Revamped
11/24/2007
"Their education is number one," said Sinead Chilton, communications coordinator. "The Salvation Army provides for their basic needs — shelter, food and security. School on Wheels is filling in the gaps in their education."
Featured in the Ventura County Star.
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Homewalk
11/17/2007
5K Family Walk to Help The Homeless
Exposition Park
700 Exposition Park Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90037
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Hollywood Heart: Student's Film Premier on NBC
7/13/2007
Check out our wonderful students making movies at our skid row learning center on NBC.
Check out our wonderful students making movies at our skid row learning center on NBC. Click here to watch the video.
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Feeling At Home in Carnegie Hall
5/29/2007
Featured in the Los Angeles Times.
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Today Show Coverage: Life on Skid Row through the Eyes of a Child
1/25/2007
Featured on the Today Show on NBC.
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Ventura County Star Newspaper Multimedia Stories
11/26/2006
Featured in the Ventura County Star.
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People Magazine Article
11/13/2006
Featured in People Magazine.
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A Tour of L.A.'s Skid Row Mean Streets
4/12/2006
NPR: Politics & Society.
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Coming of Age in the Mouth of Madness
3/13/2006
Featured in LA Weekly.
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