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Founder Neil Leach the Creation of Working Wheels A decade ago Working Wheels Director Jamie Beasley visited Neil Leach at his Madison County home Neil was building a beautiful dry stack stone wall along his garden and Jamie was there that day to learn and pitch in Neil was 84 so Jamie figured he was there to lift and Neil would direct But no Neil lifted each rock feeling its weight and experiencing its pull toward the earth This was serious work and each rock was important heavy lifting Similarly Neil did the required to turn the idea of Working Wheels into a reality He met those who needed help and with front line workers at area nonprofits He wanted to hear about the pain and ideas about how to alleviate it Even once the cause was up and running he remained active in its development As he built the wall that day Neil felt each rock in his hands and he would turn it or flip it over and lay it in its spot He might adjust once or twice but generally that was it He was and he had the same skill with people He learned what weighed you down what lifted you up and he figured out where to plug you into something he had cooking intuitive visionary Also Neil was a He could see where we were headed and could see the potential in each rock He knew that placed the right way they d make a beautiful masterpiece and he could see the unbuilt wall snaking away in his mind s eye Likewise his ability to paint his vision for others enabled him to gather and motivate teams of people persistent Finally he was which is what a dry stack wall at the age of 84 calls for along with patience Just the right mix of the two actually Neil struck that balance and he did it with extraordinary grace and respect He knew how to push something along and how to do it with love May Neil s life and the way he lived remind all of us to do more heavy lifting to trust our intuition to envision a brighter future and to be more persistent in our efforts to make the world a better place
A Legacy in Motion Dear Working Wheels Family This letter is going out to friends of Neil Leach founder of Working Wheels He was a community catalyst and a great friend of mine He passed away last summer after inspiring so many to devote their professional lives to transforming our community into a more just loving and equitable place Working Wheels is the result of the efforts of many dedicated people but Neil Leach was its engine for expansion He was a wellspring of energy and a master at pulling diverse people together for a common cause and his legacy lives on in many ways especially through friendships in the communities touched by his work Each day I am reminded of the importance of transportation in the lives of Western North Carolinians specifically the role that a dependable car plays in empowering low income workers to lift themselves out of poverty The more we are able to provide affordable reliable cars to local families in need the more doors we open to education employment healthcare and quality of life in our community Please enjoy our tribute to Neil He always wanted Working Wheels to do more and he painted the vision so masterfully Neil had great faith in you his friends and your willingness to support this vision and make it grow Please consider making a donation to the Accelerator Fund in memory of Neil Thanks for all you do to lift people up and to make our community better and thank you for honoring Neil by making his dreams a reality Sincerely Jamie Beasley Executive Director 828 633 6888 Jamie workingwheelswnc org www workingwheelswnc org
Purpose The Accelerator Fund will bolster Working Wheels expansion and growth Funds will be used to scale up the Purchase and Repair Programs to meet the overwhelming demand Levels of Giving While we appreciate a contribution of any amount please consider joining the Founder s Circle or becoming a Visionary Partner Founder s Circle Come get on this bus as Neil used to say Join Neil and other ardent supporters by donating or pledging 5 000 or more Visionary Partner Help us accelerate our growth and realize Neil s vision Donate or pledge 2 000 or more Goal 100 000 in donations and pledges Your contributions accelerate our ability to help working families in Western North Carolina Our Impact According to our most recent survey of program participants 70 Increased Income 80 Improved Housing 95 Easier Access to Healthcare 95 Improved Quality of Life Working Wheels 76 Weaverville Road Asheville NC 28804 Phone 828 633 6888 Email info workingwheelswnc org Web workingwheelswnc org Facebook workingwheelswnc
Our Mission Working Wheels provides dependable and affordable transportation to working families in Western North Carolina What makes Working Wheels a strong impactful organization is the thing that first fired Neil up its simplicity People need cars to get to their jobs medical appointments and get their kids to school So sell them a dependable vehicle for a fraction of its cost or provide a deeply discounted vehicle repair and watch their lives transform It s a straightforward idea and a powerful one D etta Neil Leach Purchase Program Working Wheels collects and repairs donated vehicles and sells them for 500 to working families In 2015 we matched 9 cars to program participants and are on track to serve 50 families in 2022 Repair Program Working Wheels provides discounted repairs for families who are unable to afford the repairs on a vehicle they already own In 2020 the first year we served 33 families We are on track to serve 100 families in 2022