Wheels for Humanity

UCP Wheels for Humanity's mission is to provide increased self-sufficiency, mobility and education to people with disabilities throughout the world, without regard to political affiliation, religious belief or ethnic identity.

Staff and volunteers at UCP Wheels for Humanity collect and refurbish used wheelchairs then individually fit them to impoverished children and adults in developing countries. Since 1996, UCP Wheels for Humanity has helped thousands of people with disabilities each year gain increased mobility and freedom. David Richard started Wheels for Humanity in his garage in 1995. He was inspired by his brother Mark's visit to Guatemala in 1986, during which he saw a woman cross the road in front of their van, dragging herself by her elbows. She was 31 and had lost the use of her legs at age 7 from polio. Her name was Macaria. Mark returned to Macaria's village where he fitted her and 18 other disabled people in the area with wheelchairs. Later, David found himself at a crossroad in his career and returned to the one thing that made him feel good: helping people with disabilities. David started collecting and repairing used wheelchairs with the help of church youth group volunteers and Boy Scouts. He delivered 130 wheelchairs to people in the Guatemala in November 1995.

David's garage operation grew and in February 1996, Wheels for Humanity incorporated into a 501 (c)3 not-for-profit. Now the organization operates from a 10,880-square-foot warehouse in North Hollywood, California, where a small professional staff and a large volunteer workforce collect donated wheelchairs and refurbish them to suit the needs of individuals with disabilities in developing countries. People who would otherwise be unable to afford a wheelchair.

In January of 2007, Wheels for Humanity joined the United Cerebral Palsy of Los Angeles, Ventura & Santa Barbara Counties family of organizations - formally becoming UCP Wheels for Humanity. This partnership enables UCP Wheels to increase its capacity to deliver more equipment, serve more children and adults with disabilities, and change more lives around the world.