School on Wheels of Massachusetts receives $30,000 grant from Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation

Hanover, MA Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation has presented a $30,000 grant to School on Wheels of Massachusetts (SOWMA) for their Pathways to Success programs. Through the Pathways to Success programs, SOWMA addresses barriers to academic success, supporting students’ social-emotional growth and creating pathways to post-secondary education for vulnerable and homeless students. This grant will support program materials and salaries for SOWMA employees to serve students through its tutoring, bridge mentoring programs and grade-level, customized backs. 

“We are extremely grateful for the extraordinary support from Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation,” said SOWMA CEO Steve Telesmanick. “These funds will be used to help students gain confidence, self-discovery and ultimately self-sufficiency.” 

“The Foundation is honored to support SOWMA and its programs that empower local youth to succeed,” said, Andrea Borowiecki, vice president of charitable giving & community engagement at Rockland Trust and executive director of Rockland Trust Charitable 

Foundation. “SOWMA’s mission aligns closely with the Foundation’s focus of championing education equity and increasing access to opportunities for those who are impacted by homelessness and poverty.” 

In 2023, the Pathways to Success programs reached thousands of students throughout more than 40 cities and towns, with the largest populations served in Boston, Brockton, and Fall River. 

Through the tutoring program, SOWMA aims to provide tutoring and mentoring support to 450-550 PreK through grade twelve students across all sites to support the growing need. SOWMA’s bridge program supports young adults post-high school to provide flexible resources and aid to students to enable them to stay in school or enter secondary education. And finally, SOWMA’s Tools for School program, where the organization works with local community organizations to distribute backpacks filled with school supplies and books for students across the state.