School is back in session, which means it’s time for our annual Wish For Wheels FoCo Team Challenge!
I’m excited to announce that for the fourth year, YGR is teaming up with Bike Fort Collins and Wish for Wheels to provide free bikes to second-graders in need right here in Fort Collins via the Team Challenge.
Last year, our amazing NoCo community came together to gift over 300 local 2nd graders at PSD’s Title One schools with shiny new bikes and helmets. As in the previous years, approx. 100 of those bikes came directly from the cycling community and the Team Challenge. This year, we’re aiming to reach a grand total of 300 bikes, and we’d love to get up to that 150 mark of those bikes that are generously provided by local teams and privateers.
Last year, the Poudre Sunrise Cyclists swooped in and took home the crown in the Total Bikes Competition with a whopping 43 bikes, as well as the Roster Percentage Participation Competition at 70%.
How it works:
Teams that win the following competitions will win beer, lots of beer to be used at their discretion.
Roster Percentage Participation Competition is all about the ratio of donated bikes to the total number of team members, not just the total bikes donated. For instance, if a team of 6 buys 6 bikes, they’re at 100% participation and could actually outshine a team of 100 that funds 35 bikes.
Total Bikes Competition it’s exactly what it sounds like – the team that donates the most bikes takes the crown.
Not on a team? No probs, if all you privateers outshine the mega teams, you’ll get a party of your own just be sure to note that you’re unaffiliated when you donate.
I have no doubt that we’ll easily surpass our goal of 150 bikes and make the whole comp super exciting. Let the trash-talking begin.
Each bike and helmet combo comes to $175 (and it’s 100% tax-deductible). We’re currently working with the schools to confirm a mid-October when we’ll be assembling and distributing the bikes and helmets to schools, and if possible, you can even join in on the deliveries. (date and locations TBD)
If you decide to donate, be sure to note your team, club, or organization affiliation, or lack there of, in the space on the form when you make the donation. Share your contribution on FaceTweetGrams and maybe even indulge in some friendly competition with other NoCo teams, riders, and groups. You can find FB and IG images to use on the Bike Fort Collins funding page.
Otherwise, ready to contribute? Donate here
Feel free to pass this email along to fellow FtC riders because we’re aiming for a community-wide effort. Let’s seize this incredible opportunity to introduce the next generation to cycling at an age where it could easily turn into a lifelong passion.
Thanks for your support!
Offical Wish For Wheels FoCo Press Release
August 31, 2023 — FORT COLLINS, CO – For the fourth consecutive year, Bike Fort Collins and Wish For Wheels, are once again aiming to help ensure every second-grader in Poudre School District’s Title 1 schools has access to a bicycle so they can learn to ride, be active, and establish a lifelong habit of bicycling. With continued community support, the Wish for Wheels FoCo program provides every second grade student with a new bike and helmet. The bikes often last each second-grader for up to 3-years of use before growing out of them.
The two partner non-profits, in conjunction with the continued support from founding program sponsor, YourGroupRide.com, are seeking partners to help fund and deliver approx. 300 bikes and helmets to every second-grader at Bauder, Irish, Harris, Laurel and Putnam Elementary Schools. The assembly and delivery of the bikes to the second-graders will take place in October, and entails an impressively choreographed schedule to visit each of the five schools over the course of the day.
There are three opportunities to participate. Funding 25-bikes enables a sponsor to “adopt” an entire second grade class, while a 65-bike commitment sponsors and funds an entire school. Students can also be supported by individuals, businesses, or organizations for a donation of $175 per student. Businesses interested in funding bikes should contact Dave Dixon at dave.dixon@bikefortcollins.org
The following businesses have sponsored an entire second-grade class or equivalent: Waterpik, Poudre River Power Authority, Van Meveren Law Group, and Scheels, with more scheduled to return and being added on a weekly basis. In addition, as it has done each year, founding sponsor YourGroupRide.com will once again lead a Team Challenge, which is a contest among area bike teams and clubs to see which organization can fund the most bikes.
“Entering the program’s fourth year, we are so grateful for the continued support from the community to help ensure every child in PSD can have a bike and helmet of their own. The program also augments our Safe Routes to School program efforts that teach PSD students, across all grades, rules of the road and bicycle skills, and thus also hopefully plants a seed for a lifelong habit.”, says Dave Dixon of Bike Fort Collins. “It’s so great as we’re now starting to see students bringing their Wish for Wheels FoCo bikes to school for the on-bike portion of our ‘Safe Routes’ curriculum at their school.”
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About Bike Fort Collins
Located in one of the most bike friendly cities in the country, Bike Fort Collins (BFC) is a growing bicycle advocacy and active transportation 501(c)(3), delivering on three primary programs, as well as a number of other advocacy initiatives and events. These programs include: Safe Routes to School (a partnership with the City of Fort Collins to deliver bike safety education to Poudre School District students), the Bicycle Friendly Business Network, and its Active Living initiative to promote inclusion and access to active transportation in marginalized and distressed communities in Northern Colorado. To learn more, visit www.bikefortcollins.org, or follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin.
About Wish For Wheels
Based in Denver, Wish for Wheels is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that gives brand new bicycles and helmets to under-resourced second-graders in Title I schools through unforgettable corporate philanthropy events. Their unique model bundles team building and employee engagement through bike building experiences for teams of all sizes. Since their founding in 2004, Wish for Wheels has given over 80,000 bicycles to children in need, thanks to their partner organizations. To learn more, visit www.wishforwheels.org.
About YourGroupRide.com
YourGroupRide.com (aka YGR) is a cycling news website based in Fort Collins, CO that unites the Northern Colorado cycling scene by keeping riders informed about the latest news, rides, races and other events. YGR conducts local rider interviews, local cyclist bike reviews and other features such as 10 Tracks and Gear Reviews. Behind the scenes, they work with Bike Fort Collins, Overland Mountain Bike Association and FC Moves/FC Bikes on advocacy initiatives to make Fort Collins an even better and safer place to ride. With the support of local businesses, they’ve been covering the NoCo cycling scene since 2009. Visit www.yourgroupride.com, or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
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