Give Something Bike
As a new parent, I felt a strong urge this holiday season to do something to help children in need. But where to start? There are, sadly, so many kids that could use a helping hand.
I was grateful to connect with Dominique Robinson, the Charitable Giving and Trust Fund Section Manager for the Dept. of Children and Family Services in Los Angeles, who told me that there are over 36,000 kids in foster care in Los Angeles, many of whom have suffered abuse and neglect.
Then she said something that really struck a chord – of those 36,000, Tweens and Teens are the most forgotten kids in need around the holidays. Most toy drives and kind efforts tend to gear towards younger kids, so those in that delicate age between 10-15 years old are often left without gifts.
Imagine how heartbreaking it would be to be passed over like that? Especially during such an emotionally tumultuous time of life. Especially during the holidays. Especially if you’re in foster care.
Okay – so now I knew who I want to help. I just needed to figure out how. What would make a meaningful impact in a Tween’s/Teen’s life to really make this a memorable holiday? Then it hit me…
A BRAND NEW BIKE!
Most people have fond memories of their first bike. It stood for something – whether it was a sizable gift, the ability to exert independence or the endless fun it offered.
So this holiday season, I am asking you to please join me in bringing joy to this special, specific group – Tween/Teen kids in foster care in Los Angeles – by clicking the box above to donate/sponsor one or more brand new bikes. (We're starting this campaign early since we need enough time to build and deliver the bikes before the holidays.)
What a unique and memorable way to do something cool to bring smiles to foster kids in that age range, to show them that people out in the world actually do care and wish them a joyful life, in spite of whatever challenges they may have faced.
Thanks to the AMAZING generosity of Kent International bicycles and La Brea Bike Works , we are able to get these incredibly cool bikes at a massively discounted rate and will be assembling and delivering them over the holidays to kids all around town.
Each kid will get their very own BRAND NEW KENT BIKE
(either the Thruster Rage or the 2Cool).
Plus, we’ve put together a PACKAGE for them that ALSO INCLUDES:
(1) a brand new RAZOR HELMET (which is a requirement per the courts in order for these kids to ride) AND
(2) a brand new BIKE LOCK (which is a must in this day and age).
All in (including GoFundMe, WePay, assembly and delivery fees), each bike package costs JUST $69!
My initial goal is to enlist your kind help to buy 100 bikes, but I’d love to find a way to do even more. This is the first year of new tradition, and hopefully each year after this one we can double the number of bikes from the year before… eventually reaching all the kids out there in foster care – at any age.
I’m a firm believer in the fact that we’re here to squeeze as much joy out of life as we can. I measure my own life in terms of smiles. With your help, we can really make a lot of kids smile – touching their hearts, showing them people out in the world think about them and care about their happiness.
So please click above and donate what you can to give these kids a truly memorable holiday this year.
Thanks for your time – and wishing you and yours the smile-liest holiday season you’ve ever had!
Jesse
P.S. Following your generous donation, Dominique will make available Tax Deductible Donation Letters to any of you who asks – so if you’d like her to send you one, please email us at [email redacted] telling us the name and mailing address she should send the letter to, along with the amount you donated. Thanks so much again!
P.P.S. Check back here for updates with counts as to how many bikes we’ve all purchased for these special kids.
# Of Bike Packages You Want To Sponsor = $Cost
1 Bike Package = $69
2 Bike Packages = $138
3 Bike Packages = $207
4 Bike Packages = $276
5 Bike Packages = $345