WHEELCHAIRS 4 KIDS INC
Dedicated to improving the lives of children with physical; disabilities.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Children outgrow their wheelchairs before Medicaid or insurance will approve a new one. Children with physical disabilities are only approved for a new wheelchair every 5 to 7 years regardless of whether their needs change due to progressive diseases. They outgrow their chairs which is not only uncomfortable, but may lead to health issues including scoliosis, respiratory problems or pressure sores. In addition, Medicaid and insurance often do not approve home or vehicle modifications such as ramps, door widening, roll-in showers or vehicle lifts. Wheelchairs 4 Kids provides these needs at no cost to the families. We also have an inclusion program called Wheely Fun Days. Our kids are often not included. They don't get invited to birthday parties or the movies. We take our kids to MLB games, Bucs Training Camp, WWE events as well as on interactive adventures such as Zip-lining, indoor sky-diving and even water-skiing using adaptive equipment.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Wheelchairs and Mobility Aids
PROGRAMS:
Provide wheelchairs, gait trainers, AFO's, Hoyer lifts, etc for children with physical disabilities.
Make homes accessible for children in wheelchairs. Install wheelchair ramps in homes as well as other accessible options such as bathroom modification for handicap access, widening doors, etc.
Customize vehicles for wheelchair accessibility.
Where we work
Awards
Proclamation 2011
City of Griffin, GA
Winners Within Us Readers Choice Award 2012
http://winnerswithinus.com/
Key to the City of Tarpon Springs 2012
City of Tarpon Springs
Winners Within Us 2012
Readers Choice Award
Saving One Child at a Time Award 2013
Pepin Academies
Community Hero 2014
Tampa Bay Lightning
Spirit of Humanity Award 2015
DeBartolo Family Foundation
Nonprofit of the Year Finalist 2015
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Nonprofit of the Year 2015
Tarpon Springs Chamber of Commerce
Pioneer Award 2015
Florida JCI Senate
Business of the Year 2016
Tarpon Springs Chamber of Commerce
Chamberlin Scholarship 2016
Association of Fundraising Professionals
Tampa Bay Ethics Award 2018
The University of Tampa Center for Ethics
Finalist 2018
WEDU Be More Awards
Certificate of Congressional Recognition 2019
U.S. Congressman Bilirakis
Hometown Hero 2013
Fox 13
Community Champion 2020
WWE
Everyday Hero 2022
Bay News 9
Non-Profit 2022
One Tampa Bay Award
External reviews

Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsNumber of children served
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Infants and toddlers, Children and youth, Adolescents
Related Program
Wheelchairs and Mobility Aids
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Number of children who received wheelchairs, home or vehicle modifications or other assistive or therapeutic equipment in calendar year.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
GOALS, OBJECTIVES, OUTCOMES AND RESULTS
2022-2023
GOAL: To improve the lives of children with physical disabilities.
OBJECTIVE: To provide 215 children under the age of 21 with wheelchairs, assistive devices, or
home/vehicle modifications by May 31, 2023
OUTCOME: These children and their families will benefit due to the increased comfort, safety, access, transportability and/or physical improvement dependent on the type of assistance we
deliver.
GOAL: To continue inclusion program.
OBJECTIVE: To host a minimum of 15 events (Wheely Fun Days) for the children we serve that will enable them to socialize and interact with each other and able-bodied children by May 31, 2023
OUTCOME: Our kids will benefit socially by meeting other children who face some of the same
issues they face. The able-bodied children will benefit by gaining a better
understanding of the challenges our kids deal with as well as recognize that they all share
some of the same hopes and dreams and have many similar mindsets in relation to pop
culture and play. This program will allow our kids the opportunity to live more fulfilled
lives, learn social skills and thrive. They will know that they are not alone
and despite their physical challenges, they are capable of doing so much more than they
ever imagined.
GOAL: Increase participation in our inclusion program, Wheely Fun Days.
OBJECTIVE: Have at least 250 children with physical disabilities and their families (Estimate 900
people) participate in our inclusion program through at least 15 Wheely Fun Days.
OUTCOME: The children will see that they are not alone and build lasting relationships. They will
also learn that they can do so much more than they ever dreamed possible. The parents
can share their experiences and recommendations as well as find a group of parents that
share the same circumstances and support each other.
GOAL: To increase our visibility.
OBJECTIVE: To have 25 online/newspaper/TV segments about us as well as increase our fans on
Facebook to 6,500 and Instagram to 1000 by May 31, 2023.
OUTCOME: Physical therapists and other caregivers as well as families, vendors and supporters will be more aware of the services we offer which will allow us to help more children. Vendors will see the value of working with us and funders can be confident that their donations are being put to good use. It will also bring awareness to the issues our families deal with every day.
GOAL: To continue to be fiscally responsible.
OBJECTIVE: To maintain our current ratio of over 80% of funding going toward program services.
OUTCOME: Donors can be confident that their donated dollars are being spent where intended
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
We work with physical therapists, child advocates, organizations, and families to solicit and receive referrals for our services.
Once an application has been accepted we work with wheelchair and other equipment manufacturers and dealers for highly discounted prices. We also contact contractors who will donate or discount their services for home modifications. Next we reach out to that child's community for sponsors or utilize funding from our corporate/community/foundation supporters to assist the child.
We also work closely with sports teams, attractions and corporate sponsors to assist with in-kind gifts for our Wheely Fun Days.
We believe that being fiscally responsible, transparent and accountable builds trust. Donors should feel confident that their funds will be used as intended - to help our kids!
We have 4 events planned and have a monthly recurring gift program called Guardians of the Wheel Kids.
We are also writing more grants and reaching out to more corporations to develop cause marketing initiatives.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We work closely with the families and physical therapists to determine what the best solution is for each child. Our referrals usually come from advocate organizations such as Shriners Hospitals, United Cerebral Palsy, The Spina Bifida Association, Children's Medical Services, etc.
We have been fortunate to partner with several mobility manufacturers and dealers that deeply discount their products and services. We generally get between a 40 -70 % discount on mobility items and usually get free labor from building contractors.
The average value of the equipment or modifications we provide is over $6,000. However, due to the relationships we have forged with manufacturers, distributors and contractors, our average cost to fund one child is approximately $2,500.00, a tremendous savings. All modifications are done by professional contractors who are licensed and insured.
Funding from our corporate/community/foundation grants and sponsorships enables us to continue to help more children each year.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
As of 2022, we have assisted over 1200 children with disabilities by providing wheelchairs, home and vehicle modifications, and other assistive and therapeutic devices. Our assistance has allowed these children proper and fitted equipment, accessibility into their own homes and bathrooms, ease of vehicular transportation, and development potential with therapeutic devices. Our assistance has also helped some children finally be able walk! Their families are also benefited by being able to care for their child properly and with greater ease.
We have provided over 90 inclusion days ; "Wheely Fun Days," for our kids such as taking them to activities that we often take for granted as well as some exclusive experiences that will create memories that will last a lifetime and make “our kids" the envy of all their peers! . For Wheely Fun Days, our kids have been to Buccaneers Training Camp and WWE events, they’ve sailed with Sailability of Tampa Bay and ziplined at Gatorland. They’ve waterskied with the help of Ann’s Angels Adaptive Waterskiing, and even experienced indoor skydiving at iFly Tampa! All of these activities are designed for our kids to do what they do best – be kids!
We are proud of the impact we have made so far. Due to increasing awareness of our services, the requests for our assistance is growing. We are striving to grow with the requests and assist these children as efficiently as possible.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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Who are the people you serve with your mission?
We serve families who have children up to the age of 21 living with a physical disability. We have 2 major programs: 1. Let's Roll - This program addresses mobility and accessibility. We provide wheelchairs, home and vehicle modifications as well as other assistive or therapeutic equipment at no charge to the families. 2. Wheely Fun Days - This program addresses inclusion and socialization. Our kids are often left on the sidelines of life. We take them on exciting adventures which not only promote socialization and fun, but helps them realize that they are capable of so much more than ever imagined. We take them indoor skydiving, ziplining and water-skiing using adaptive equipment. We also take them to sporting events and concerts.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
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What significant change resulted from feedback?
We recently added 2 new items to the types of equipment we provide. One is the Permobil Mini Explorer. It is a new, power wheelchair for toddlers that is an introduction to power chairs that is extremely easy to use with a large ball that is easy for little hands to maneuver and learn how to control direction. The other is the EZ Cruiser - a lightweight, collapsible power chair that is easy to transport in an average vehicle.
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
WHEELCHAIRS 4 KIDS INC
Board of directorsas of 02/23/2023
Hal Williams
Allstate Insurance
Term: 2016 - 2022
Tammy Dickman
Artesian Farms
Term: 2020 - 2022
Hal Williams
Allstate Insurance
Susanne Gomez-Barnason
Florida Dept. of Revenue
Randy Knorr
Washington Nationals
Dave Wright
Primerica
Kimberly Perry
Kimberly Perry CPA
Terald Hopkins
Ford of New Port Richey
Tammy Dickman
Artesian Farms
David Baxter
Harmar Mobility
Danny Persaud
MidFlorida Armored
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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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? No -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
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? No -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? No -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
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
No data