GOLD2023

SCHOOL ON WHEELS OF MASSACHUSETTS INC

Education Kids, Empower Families, End Homelessness

aka SOWMA   |   East Bridgewater, MA   |  http://www.sowma.org

Mission

School on Wheels of Massachusetts’ (SOWMA) mission is to support the academic, social and emotional growth of students impacted by homelessness. Our vision is for all students to have the support necessary to be successful in school and achieve a productive future that will help end the cycle of homelessness. Our 3 “Pathways to Student Success” (One-on-One Tutoring Program, Bridge Program and Tools for School) give at risk students the opportunity to reach their full potential --- by being a consistent presence in their lives, by building their belief in themselves and by increasing their competencies to succeed in school. Since 2004, SOWMA has tutored 3,200+ students, celebrated 39 college graduations and distributed 31,000+ customized backpacks.

Ruling year info

2004

Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Steven Telesmanick

Main address

100 Laurel St, Suite 121

East Bridgewater, MA 02333 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

20-1020880

NTEE code info

Homeless Services/Centers (P85)

Educational Services and Schools - Other (B90)

Adult, Child Matching Programs (O30)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

It is alarming that in 2017-18 there were more than 24,000 homeless children enrolled in Massachusetts public schools. The trauma and instability of homelessness significantly impacts a child’s education success. A MA homeless child will move 3 times annually, missing critical layers of learning. High school students with housing instability with no family support are 87% more likely than their housed peers to drop out. Education is a way out of homelessness and poverty. However, “Two-thirds of formerly homeless youth said that homelessness had a significant impact on their education, making it hard to do well in school.” (U.S. Dept. Ed. 2016) School on Wheels of Massachusetts gives at risk students the opportunity to break through the traumatic effects of homelessness to reach their full potential --- by being a consistent presence in their lives, by building their belief in themselves and by increasing their competencies to succeed in school.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

One-on-One Tutoring Program

The cornerstone of the Tutoring Program is 1-on-1 personalized mentoring and tutoring support. Tutors (trained community volunteers) meet weekly with students (PreK-grade12) during the school year and develop close bonds that help vulnerable at-risk students feel valued, gain confidence in what they can do and rebuild their academic skills. The program focuses on both academic and social emotional growth and works to build strong readers, the key to long term learning advancement. Students can access the on-site Lending Library and participate in the “Read to Succeed” incentive reading program. Monthly STEAM projects encourage exploration and discovery of new ideas and concepts. Summer Fun program operates in the summer (with students moving through activity centers) with the benefit of retention -100% returned to tutoring. Students served live in congregate (group) family shelters, scattered site shelter apartments or low-income housing.

Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Homeless people

The Bridge Program provides customized mentoring, services and resources to empower homeless and formerly homeless students from middle school to college ages to graduate from high school, get their GED and successfully transition and succeed in post-secondary education and gain self-sufficiency through employment. Students may be matched with a volunteer Mentor to overcome challenges & access connections & resources. Services include: test prep, identifying vocational/college opportunities, training/college applications, financial aid applications, financial literacy training, access to internships and career exploration. The program offers flexible resources to help cover unmet needs such as textbooks, tuition/housing gaps, transportation, grocery cards, dorm supplies, moving, laptops, software, emergencies etc. The program also offers annual scholarships for students to attend college.

Population(s) Served
At-risk youth
Homeless people
Adolescents

It all starts with a brand new backpack. For students impacted by homelessness and poverty with little to call their own, a brand new backpack tells them that someone cares about them and believes in their school success --- boosting their confidence and giving them the tools they need to be prepared for school. Every student in one of our programs receives a new fully stocked grade-level backpack filled with grade-level books and school supplies. We also distribute these customized backpacks to students (in 38+ communities across the state) who are impacted by homelessness and poverty, reaching on average 6,000+ annually responding to requests from schools and organizations.

Population(s) Served
At-risk youth
Homeless people
Extremely poor people
Low-income people

Where we work

Awards

Rising Star 2010

Sun Life Financial (Rising Star Award)

Rising Star 2011

Sun Life Financial (Rising Star Award)

Citizen Bank and NECN Champion in Action 2014

Citizen Bank

Rising Star 2014

Sun Life Financial (Rising Star Award)

Common Good Award for Education - United Way of Greater Plymouth County 2013

United Way of Massachusetts Bay

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We shared information about our current feedback practices.
  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

Financials

SCHOOL ON WHEELS OF MASSACHUSETTS INC
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

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SCHOOL ON WHEELS OF MASSACHUSETTS INC

Board of directors
as of 03/13/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Athena Giannaros

Writer, former Program Manager Kennedy School of Gvt Harvard University

Term: 2022 - 2024

Carol Augustyniak Marcus

Speech Pathologist

Spencer Collier

GetFused Inc.

Gregory DeSimone

Beacon Equity Advisors

Thomas Flanagan

Oliver Ames School

Gabriela Chew

Boston Public Schools

Rudy Dajie

Grey Properties

Matthew Galligan

CIT Financial Group

Tina Green

Tina Green Law Associates

Stephen Marcus

Retired, Marcus Errico Emmer & Brooks

Richard McGrail

Past President/CEO, AVTEK Inc.

Mark Mendes

Rockland Trust

Richard Olson

Randolph Savings Bank

Carla Rodney

Pega Systems Inc

Patricia Williams

Harbor One Bank

Joanna Gerson Fleming

Computacenter US

Megan O'Brien

North Easton Savings Bank

Ann Weintraub

Center Elementary School, Easton

Christopher Murphy

Chartered Enterprise Risk Analyst

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 11/8/2022

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Male
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

No data

Gender identity

No data

 

No data

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data