The Trips for Kids board of directors is awarding up to $50,000 in grants to support the Trips for Kids' international network of chapters thanks in large part to proceeds from the sale of donated items that Trips for Kids receives each year from corporate sponsors across the cycling and outdoor industries.
Each grant award winner will receive $1,200 to help support and promote the growth and development of their individual Trips for Kids chapter. Operating as separate entities, the international network of chapters is a strong community dedicated to putting underprivileged kids on bikes. Local chapters use their grants in a variety of capacities, but always for the benefit of their student participants and individual programs.
“Financial donations like the TFK Grant play the major role in what we do as a chapter,” said Paula Fricke, director for Trips for Kids Charlotte. “We've been able to grow each area of our program, including enabling us to replace our three oldest Ride Program bikes and host new major weekend outings and trips for the kids each year.”
Through donation of over-stocked, out-of-date, slightly used or blemished goods for sale at the Bay-Area located Re-Cyclery bicycle thrift shop (a great resource for new and used bikes, parts, accessories and bike clothing), cycling companies are going beyond “thinking green” by helping to reduce waste and support community and advocacy efforts.
“Each year we see our national program expanding into more communities and our chapters hitting new milestones with their bike programs,” said Marilyn Price, Trips for Kids founder and director. “Our thanks go out to all of our industry sponsors that help make the national program possible – their loyalty to our cause and their generosity is felt by every chapter.”
Since its inception in 1988, more than 100,000 underserved youths have participated in Trips for Kids programs across North America in chapters spread as far as Northern California to Nova Scotia and one chapter in Israel. Each of the nonprofit's 80 local chapters is designed to meet the needs of the individual community it serves – offering lessons in confidence building, achievement and environmental awareness.
Trips for Kids is a national 501(c)3 nonprofit based in San Rafael, California. Trips for Kids started in 1988 as a grass roots effort by avid mountain biker, environmentalist, and Mountain Bike Hall of Fame inductee, Marilyn Price. Its programs give underserved youth a chance to experience the joy and challenge of mountain biking, while learning valuable life skills and an appreciation for the outdoors. There are currently 80 Trips for Kids chapters across the United States and Canada, and 2 chapters in Israel.
