Harrisburg Academy Community Hitches Up With ‘Wheels From The Heart’ To Gift A Van To A Steelton Single Mom of Five

Jessica And Family with Van

Alumnus Steve Muschlitz (Class of ’82) and his Wheels from the Heart  charity (WFTH) today joined forces with Academy trustees, students, faculty, parents, community members and local celebrity Nancy Ryan to provide a free van to a single mother of five children living in Steelton who was in dire need of transportation to get to work to support her family. “Jessica,” whose children range in age from 4 to 12, needed a vehicle for a better job opportunity and has struggled to provide life’s necessities for her family during the pandemic. The Harrisburg Academy community rallied with Muschlitz and his charity by providing Jessica and her family with free Summer School enrollment at the Academy, gas cards, car seats, several free auto maintenance services from local businesses, and gift cards to neighborhood grocery stores and restaurants that will help them weather tough financial and emotional times during COVID-19. Each of Jessica’s children also received a bag filled with goodies provided by Academy students and their families and food boxes provided by Midwest Food Bank along with car seats from PennDOT District 8 and their grant office, Southcentral PA Highway Safety.

“Owning a car is often the first step to financial independence for single mothers and their families,” said Muschlitz, owner of Country Club Auto in Delray Beach, Florida. “My Wheels from the Heart charity has donated 127 vehicles to women and children in need in Florida and now in Pennsylvania over the last seven years. These vehicles give them an opportunity for career advancement and better-paying positions to drive their lives to success. Now, with the generous support of our Academy community, I am proud to bring this opportunity to Jessica and her family, and I hope it is just the first of many vehicle donations we make to deserving families in the Greater Harrisburg region.”

An important part of the mission of educators and everyone at Harrisburg Academy is to make the world a better place for all.  That fundamental educational philosophy begins as early as preschool and continues throughout high school to prepare Academy students for a life of service, responsibility and giving back to their communities. It’s incorporated into their curriculum.

“It is not enough to simply learn in a classroom setting about how to make a tangible difference, but it’s imperative that we immerse our students in a culture of caring and doing, along with an action plan of leadership. It must become the fabric of who they are and who they become,” added Adrian Allan, head of school, Harrisburg Academy. “We’re so proud to have alumni like Steve with a life mission that melds perfectly with our International Baccalaureate focus on individual empowerment, creating tools for self-sufficiency, providing direct community service and engaging enthusiastically in volunteerism. I am proud of the commitment and spirit demonstrated by our students, faculty, staff, Board, parents, alumni, and greater community members who are uplifting Jessica and her family during this unprecedented pandemic.”

 #SpartanPride on Display

Middle and Upper School students held a “Denim Day” during which students paid one dollar to dress in comfortable clothes to raise money for local grocery, retail and gas cards. The Parent Association also helped contribute to the fundraising efforts. Sam Kinback, owner of Callen Kinback Inc. in Lemoyne, pledged a free oil change, fluid refills and a tire-rotation service. Gunn-Mowery Insurance, also located in Lemoyne, helped facilitate insuring the van.

 “We are extremely grateful for these generous gifts that Harrisburg Academy, Wheels from the Heart and the local community have given to our family. They will bring us joy and this van will make life a bit easier for us every day. God has blessed our hearts and put us on everyone’s mind. I can’t thank you all enough,” commented Jessica. 

“Mush, as we affectionately call him, is an alumnus who lives the values of hard work, community pride and caring for others that were foundational to our learning experiences at Harrisburg Academy,” added Board Trustee Joe Gillette. “We are thrilled to spread that spirit of giving to current students, their families and single mothers in need in the Capital Region.”

If you would like to donate to help Jessica’s family, please contact Joe Gillette at [email protected] or make a contribution directly to www.wheelsfromtheheart.org

About Harrisburg Academy

At Harrisburg Academy, an outstanding, forward-thinking, hands-on education is paramount with students engaged on a unique journey of self-discovery, academic achievement and social growth.  Students, preschool through high school, excel in a challenging and diverse curriculum, and are well-rounded scholars and creative artists, exceptional athletes and talented musicians, and globally minded philanthropists. They benefit from the enormous advantages of a small learning community each and every day that offers stimulating growth to prepare them for 21st Century success to learn boldly and to think analytically, creatively and innovatively.

This year, younger students wrote more than 80 letters to Macy’s to support “Make a Wish” while fourth graders collected over 1,000 books to donate to Tri County Community Action and those less fortunate. Another group in the Upper School raised 3,000 pounds of food for the Central PA Food Bank.  The Lower School students wrote 600 letters to first responders and healthcare heroes to thank and uplift them.  One senior has helped instruct mentally and physically challenged students perform ballet, while another has collected toiletries for homeless women.  An important part of the mission of educators at Harrisburg Academy and for our students is to make the world a better place for all.  We begin addressing community service and volunteerism in preschool and continue throughout high school to prepare our students for a life of service, responsibility and giving back to our communities. These are just a few highlights of some of the impactful service projects in which Harrisburg Academy students volunteer and make a difference in our region. For more information, go to www.HarrisburgAcademy.org.

About Wheels from the Heart

Wheels from the Heart, a 501(c)(3) organization, provides reliable vehicles for single mothers in need and their children. Since 2014, the Foundation has donated 127 cars to help families gain independence with transportation. More information at www.wheelsfromtheheart.org.