Clayton's Backyard Crew
Donation protected
Hello world! I'm Clayton.
In 1999, at the age of 10, and with the essential help of my mother, Vicki Gil, I founded a community project called Clayton's Backyard Crew (CBC). Originally, we received bicycle donations from around the city of San Antonio and would restore them to be delivered as Christmas gifts for children of incarcerated parents. Over the next 14 years we were able to successfully donate over 1,200 bicycles to these at risk youth. We've been on a brief hiatus (I moved out of state for college and have since settled down in Austin, TX) but we are bringing CBC back into operation for 2014!
A thousand "thank yous" to you for taking the time to read about my campaign. Being apart of this project, since I was 10 years old, has lead me to be the confident, motivated, and driven person that I am today. And it's important that I continue to spread love through simple acts of kindness, to inspire all to understand how easy it truly is to empower one another. We will be honoring the tradition of our project for this holiday season, but in 2015 we start building new methods for year-round operation as an official 501(c)(3) non profit organization! Because Christmas isn't the only season where at-risk youth are at-risk.
I have learned so much through simple acts of love & kindness that I strive to continue to inspire, not only the thousands of youth who suffer from a childhood with incarcerated parents, but all future generations--so they can overcome the hardships of their upbringing, and know that they too can acheive a life filled with love & confidence.
We have some big plans for our organization's future, but for now we are starting off by raising funds to purchase 100 brand-new bicycles so we can distribute them to 100 underprivileged youth, providing them with at least one loving memory this holiday season.
To give you a better idea of why we're fundraising,
the letter below is a brief history of
Clayton's Backyard Crew,
by Lou Gil,
A distinguished writer and my loving uncle. . .
--
"For nearly 1,200 children, over a fourteen year span, the organization known as “Clayton’s Backyard Crew” has meant Christmas joy to children who must live through the pain of having a parent in prison.
In a world rift with negative stories of young people, Clayton Lillard, then ten years old and in the fifth grade, and his mom Vicki Gil, brought a shining light to the dark world of these children by reclaiming two discarded bicycles found left as trash by families in their neighborhood. Clayton set about repairing these bikes without a thought of himself or any monetary gain. Instead, he recognized his own fortune – his possessions and his family – and wanted other less fortunate children to share in the joy he got from his own bike.
With his mother, Vicki Gil, Clayton decided that a Prison ministry was the best vehicle for distributing his reclamation projects for the first years the project existed. He set a goal of twenty-five bikes to be repaired and sent to prisoners’ children, not realizing that word of his selflessness had gotten out. Soon, old bicycles began showing up at Clayton’s door and he quickly realized that he had more than a one man job. Thus, “Clayton’s Backyard Crew” (CBC) was formed. Several of Clayton’s classmates and neighborhood friends volunteered to help. CBC delivered 100 bikes that first year! Each year after that averaged out to be 100 bikes each year.
Over the years, CBC has graduated from used bikes to new bikes. CBC only distributes new bicycles presently.
The impact to the community was tremendous. Every hard-working individual involved with this project was warmed by the size of Clayton’s heart. The exclamations of surprise and joy filled the air when the gifts were delivered. The entire community was able to watch, as local television crews filmed the big occasion. Even when approached by the media for some well deserved “face time”, Clayton preferred to stay in the background and let his work do his talking for him.
The sorrow and pain an imprisoned parent carries in their hearts for their children at Christmas is unimaginable to most people. To witness that misery eased by one remarkable young man’s vision, determination and love for his fellow man is life changing. All who volunteered to help with the project will carry with them the sense of well-being and fellowship fostered by Clayton Lillard and his mom Vicki Gil.
Clayton’s Backyard Crew is setting a goal of $7,500 for this Christmas. The “Crew" would like to distribute 100 bicycles again this year. You donation will make that possible.
Thank you for taking the time read about this inspiring project and for contributing."
- Lou Gil
In 1999, at the age of 10, and with the essential help of my mother, Vicki Gil, I founded a community project called Clayton's Backyard Crew (CBC). Originally, we received bicycle donations from around the city of San Antonio and would restore them to be delivered as Christmas gifts for children of incarcerated parents. Over the next 14 years we were able to successfully donate over 1,200 bicycles to these at risk youth. We've been on a brief hiatus (I moved out of state for college and have since settled down in Austin, TX) but we are bringing CBC back into operation for 2014!
A thousand "thank yous" to you for taking the time to read about my campaign. Being apart of this project, since I was 10 years old, has lead me to be the confident, motivated, and driven person that I am today. And it's important that I continue to spread love through simple acts of kindness, to inspire all to understand how easy it truly is to empower one another. We will be honoring the tradition of our project for this holiday season, but in 2015 we start building new methods for year-round operation as an official 501(c)(3) non profit organization! Because Christmas isn't the only season where at-risk youth are at-risk.
I have learned so much through simple acts of love & kindness that I strive to continue to inspire, not only the thousands of youth who suffer from a childhood with incarcerated parents, but all future generations--so they can overcome the hardships of their upbringing, and know that they too can acheive a life filled with love & confidence.
We have some big plans for our organization's future, but for now we are starting off by raising funds to purchase 100 brand-new bicycles so we can distribute them to 100 underprivileged youth, providing them with at least one loving memory this holiday season.
To give you a better idea of why we're fundraising,
the letter below is a brief history of
Clayton's Backyard Crew,
by Lou Gil,
A distinguished writer and my loving uncle. . .
--
"For nearly 1,200 children, over a fourteen year span, the organization known as “Clayton’s Backyard Crew” has meant Christmas joy to children who must live through the pain of having a parent in prison.
In a world rift with negative stories of young people, Clayton Lillard, then ten years old and in the fifth grade, and his mom Vicki Gil, brought a shining light to the dark world of these children by reclaiming two discarded bicycles found left as trash by families in their neighborhood. Clayton set about repairing these bikes without a thought of himself or any monetary gain. Instead, he recognized his own fortune – his possessions and his family – and wanted other less fortunate children to share in the joy he got from his own bike.
With his mother, Vicki Gil, Clayton decided that a Prison ministry was the best vehicle for distributing his reclamation projects for the first years the project existed. He set a goal of twenty-five bikes to be repaired and sent to prisoners’ children, not realizing that word of his selflessness had gotten out. Soon, old bicycles began showing up at Clayton’s door and he quickly realized that he had more than a one man job. Thus, “Clayton’s Backyard Crew” (CBC) was formed. Several of Clayton’s classmates and neighborhood friends volunteered to help. CBC delivered 100 bikes that first year! Each year after that averaged out to be 100 bikes each year.
Over the years, CBC has graduated from used bikes to new bikes. CBC only distributes new bicycles presently.
The impact to the community was tremendous. Every hard-working individual involved with this project was warmed by the size of Clayton’s heart. The exclamations of surprise and joy filled the air when the gifts were delivered. The entire community was able to watch, as local television crews filmed the big occasion. Even when approached by the media for some well deserved “face time”, Clayton preferred to stay in the background and let his work do his talking for him.
The sorrow and pain an imprisoned parent carries in their hearts for their children at Christmas is unimaginable to most people. To witness that misery eased by one remarkable young man’s vision, determination and love for his fellow man is life changing. All who volunteered to help with the project will carry with them the sense of well-being and fellowship fostered by Clayton Lillard and his mom Vicki Gil.
Clayton’s Backyard Crew is setting a goal of $7,500 for this Christmas. The “Crew" would like to distribute 100 bicycles again this year. You donation will make that possible.
Thank you for taking the time read about this inspiring project and for contributing."
- Lou Gil
Organizer
Clayton Lillard
Organizer
San Antonio, TX
