
Working Wheels provides affordable, reliable transportation to local families in need. We do this because we know that a dependable car opens the doors to education, employment, access to healthcare, and an improved quality of life. Our collaborative model bolsters the work of trusted partners by connecting the repaired vehicles with their clients – the ones they believe need them the most.
We offer 2 programs: the Vehicle Purchase Program and the Vehicle Repair Program. For the Vehicle Purchase Program, we repair and refurbish donated cars and sell them for $500 to working families. For the Vehicle Repair Program, we offer deeply discounted vehicle repairs for people who cannot afford to repair a vehicle they already own.
Staff
- Jamie Beasley, Executive Director
- Mike Campbell, Shop Director
- Lara Lustig, Director of Programs and Administration
- Abby Incze, Program Coordinator
- Mel Espinoza, Program Associate
- Leslie Sharpe, Donation Coordinator
- Ray Cockrell, Service Manager
- Zero Miller, Automotive Technician
Tax Deduction Calculation
With most car donation programs, donors get a wholesale value of the car for their tax deduction. With Working Wheels, donors are often able to claim the retail value.
Most organizations that solicit car donations do not use those vehicles to carry out their mission. But rather, they accept vehicles, contract with a third-party business to sell them in the wholesale market, and receive only a portion of the proceeds to fund their organization. The sales price (in the wholesale market) of the donated car is reported back to the donor as the value of the tax deduction for IRS purposes.
At Working Wheels, many of the vehicles donated to us are repaired and placed with people who need them – this is our mission! When this happens, the donor can claim a tax deduction equal to the retail value of the car. Cars that are in good condition but not used as program cars are repaired and sold in a retail setting – also bringing fair market value to the donor as a tax deduction.
There are some cars that we are not able to repair. These cars are used as “organ donors,” providing vital parts for other vehicles that will be repaired. In some cases, vehicles that are beyond repair are sold in the wholesale market to create proceeds to support our mission.
Working Wheels is a 501(c)(3) certified non-profit organization with Federal Tax ID# 81-4965358.
Board of Directors
- Wendolyn Forbes, Chair CFP® at Wealth Transition Finance, a Member of Advisory Services Network, LLC
- Beth Newman, Vice Chair Transitional Pastor at Bryson City Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)
- Robbin Brophy, Treasurer Owner of Brophy and Associates Consulting
- Jodi Wygmans, Secretary Case Management Coordinator at Helpmate
- Tim Rosebrock, Past Chair Vice President & General Manager at the Biltmore Company
- Lynn Bledsoe Retired Chaplain, Highland Farms and Givens Estates
- Adriana Chavela Owner of Hola Carolina Magazine
- Rob Harmon Owner of Elk Mountain Motors
- Tom Byers Retired, UNCA and Self-Help Credit Union
- Dee Mason Community Organizer
- Latrice Roland Program Participant and Essential Worker
- Scott Rasco Retired Executive, UPS