School on Wheels, a GHJ Foundation grant recipient, was recently introduced to the Foundation by a GHJ team member with a long-tenured volunteer tutor position within the organization — this relationship with the nonprofit sparked the Foundation’s interest to learn more.
When a GHJ team member proposed School on Wheels as a grant recipient for the Foundation’s 2026 Grants Committee, she shared how meaningful her experience has been volunteering with the organization. She detailed the profound impact that consistent tutoring and mentorship can have on children experiencing homelessness, and it was this firsthand experience that resonated deeply with the Grants Committee.
As a result, GHJ Foundation spoke with Charles Evans, the executive director of School on Wheels, about the organization’s work, the students it serves, and the difference that dedicated volunteers and community support can make. Charles provided insight into the work School on Wheels does to deliver free tutoring and mentorship to children that experience homelessness.
For anyone not familiar with School on Wheels, can you tell us about the organization, its mission and the communities you serve?
Charles Evans: School on Wheels is a nonprofit organization founded in 1993 with a mission to improve educational opportunities for K–12 children experiencing homelessness. We provide free academic tutoring and emotional support, in-person and online, to ensure our students are engaged and focused on school during a time when staying on track academically can be challenging due to frequent moves.
We serve children living in shelters, motels, group foster homes, campgrounds, vehicles and on the streets across six Southern California counties: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino and Ventura.
One of our most urgent service areas is Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles. At our Skid Row Learning Center, approximately 50 to 60 students receive daily homework assistance, access to computers, enrichment opportunities and — most importantly — consistent, individualized support from caring adults. The Center provides a safe and stable environment where children can learn, grow and feel encouraged despite the challenges they face.
Can you tell us about your role as Executive Director and what brought you to School on Wheels?
Charles Evans: I came to School on Wheels in 2008, and I often tell people that was the year I found my true calling. I had always been familiar with homelessness, but I wasn’t fully aware of how many young people experience homelessness or how deeply it can affect their education and overall well-being.
I began as a regional coordinator for South Los Angeles, a community that is especially meaningful to me because it is where I was raised. In that role, I recruited, managed and paired volunteers with students throughout the region. South Los Angeles continues to be one of the areas with the largest number of students experiencing homelessness in California.
Over the years, I took on a variety of roles, including instructor at Skid Row Learning Center, team leader and regional director. Today, I work with our leadership team on strategic planning, financial management, advocacy and ensuring that our programs continue to meet the needs of our students, families and communities. I also partner closely with our board of directors to keep School on Wheels grounded in its mission and focused on expanding educational opportunities for children experiencing homelessness.
My personal history, combined with my experience working directly with students and families, continues to shape my leadership. I’m deeply committed to making sure every child we serve has the stability, support and encouragement they need to succeed in school and build a brighter future.
What are some of the greatest challenges facing the students you serve, and how does School on Wheels help address those challenges?
Charles Evans: Children experiencing homelessness face frequent school disruptions, academic gaps, limited access to technology and the emotional stress of instability. These challenges can affect their confidence, focus and overall well-being.
School on Wheels provides consistency and individualized support through one-on-one tutoring, access to devices, enrichment activities and caring relationships with trusted adults. We help students strengthen their academic skills, stay engaged in school and connect with additional resources when needed. Our goal is to provide stability and encouragement during a time of instability and uncertainty.
What is most meaningful to you personally about the work School on Wheels does?
Charles Evans: School on Wheels is the only organization in Southern California focused exclusively on supporting students experiencing homelessness. These students face enormous obstacles and often do not receive the support they need. Sometimes, stigma can also make them hesitant to accept the help available to them.
Although our work does not directly provide housing, I believe it contributes to the larger goal of breaking the cycle of homelessness. When students receive the academic support, stability and encouragement they need to stay on track, they are better positioned to build a more secure future for themselves.
One relationship from my earliest days with School on Wheels continues to remind me of the lasting impact this work can have. My very first tutor-student match is still connected more than 18 years later. They initially bonded over the color purple and Michael Jackson’s music, but that connection grew into something much deeper. The tutor supported the student through high school and college graduation, and ultimately into a career in mental health. Seeing that relationship evolve from a simple point of connection into a lifelong source of encouragement is incredibly meaningful to me.
I am also deeply moved by the commitment of our volunteer tutors. The relationship between a tutor and student is at the heart of our work. Our tutors bring the patience, compassion and empathy needed to support students at different academic levels and during times when school may not be their top priority. Despite the inconsistency and uncertainty in many of our students’ lives, our tutors continue to show up. Witnessing those relationships and seeing students gain confidence and build brighter futures, as a result, is one of the most meaningful parts of my work.
How can members of the community get involved?
Charles Evans: Our work relies entirely on community generosity. We do not receive government funding, which means our ability to serve these children depends on the support of compassionate individuals, foundations and corporate partners.
The reality for our students is that they are often navigating an unstable environment where education is frequently disrupted. One of the most persistent hurdles we face is the digital divide. Many of our students still lack reliable access to Wi-Fi or the necessary technology to connect with their tutors. Closing this gap is a critical part of our work, as it ensures that even in the most challenging living situations, our students are not left behind.
There are two primary ways people can make a tangible difference:
- Volunteer Your Time: We are always looking for dedicated volunteers. Whether one-on-one tutoring or mentoring, volunteers’ time provides the consistent, caring relationship that many of our students need to build confidence and stay in school. Our tutors are the heartbeat of this organization, and the impact of that weekly, reliable presence cannot be overstated
- Invest in Student Success: Because our model is highly personal and high-touch, it is also staff-intensive. When community members make a monetary gift, they directly fund the staff who navigate the complexities of homelessness, recruit and support our tutors, and provide the educational tools — like Chromebooks and Wi-Fi hotspots — that bridge the digital divide for our students
Every contribution, whether it is an hour of a volunteer’s time or a financial donation, helps our organization ensure that a child's housing situation does not determine their educational future.
Is there anything you would like people to know about School on Wheels or the students and communities you serve?
Charles Evans: One thing I want more people to know is how invisible student homelessness can be. The children we serve may be living in shelters, motels, vehicles or other transitional situations, and their classmates and teachers may not always know what they are experiencing.
Students experiencing homelessness are not defined by their circumstances. They are resilient young people with hopes and potential, but frequent moves and limited access to resources can make it especially difficult to succeed in school.
School on Wheels provides more than tutoring — we offer consistency, encouragement and trusted relationships that help students build confidence and stay engaged in school. It takes a village to support a child, and we welcome anyone interested in helping to join ours.
IMPACTING THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY
School on Wheels provides invaluable support across Southern California for children experiencing homelessness. GHJ Foundation is proud to support the nonprofit’s cause through the Foundation’s grant program. Twice annually, GHJ employees volunteer to serve on a rotating roster of GHJ Foundation's Grants Committee. These committee members identify, assess, analyze and select their list of grant recipients to give back to nonprofits that are meaningful to GHJ’s employees. Learn more about GHJ Foundation and how you can support its mission.
