Groups Donate 40 bicycles, helmets to Boys and Girls Clubs of Collin County, City House
PLANO, TEXAS – December 21, 2012 – The Plano Bicycle Association (PBA) and Texas Medical Association announced today that it is donating 40 new kids’ bicycles and helmets to needy children at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Collin County and to City House both of which are located in Plano. The helmets were made possible by a matching grant from the Texas Medical Association through its Hard Hats for Little Heads program.
Through a partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Collin County, City House and the assistance of PBA members and the Texas Medical Association, the PBA was able to purchase, assemble and deliver new bicycles and helmets to help less fortunate children in our community. Without these bikes, these kids may not get to experience the joy and the freedom of riding a bike, which most kids take for granted.
“The Boys and Girls Clubs of Collin County is very appreciative of the donation by PBA and TMA of these bikes and helmets to our Plano children,” expressed Mike Simpson, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Collin County. “Over the years these donations have benefited many children, who may have never had a bicycle and helmet. It means even more to receive these generous gifts at this time of year.”
“This is such a wonderful Christmas present for any child, but even more important to the children at City House,” said Teresa Keenan, Executive Director, City House. “The bicycles and helmets will arrive just in time to ride on the new bicycle path, funded by the Andrea-Mennen Family Foundation, which will be completed by Christmas. We thank PBA and TMA for making this a very special holiday for our children.”
“We began the bike donation program in 2008, giving away six new bicycles to needy children in Plano,” said Andrew Hoodwin, president, Plano Bicycle Association. “Continuing our goal of doubling our bike donation each year, we are proud to donate a total of 40 bicycles. and helmets.. Through the generous efforts of our club members, sponsors and great partners like the Texas Medical Association, we are reaching more than four times as many kids as did when we started the program.”
“Texas physicians want kids to be active, and we want them to be safe. Head injuries can be devastating and irreversible,” said TMA President Michael E. Speer, MD, and TMA Foundation President Russell WH Kridel, MD, both from Houston.
“We are pleased to partner with local agencies, especially during the holidays, to provide helmets to go with the new bikes kids receive as gifts.”
About The Boys and Girls Club of Collin County
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Collin County provides more than 7,500 area children and teenagers with a safe place to learn and grow in the vulnerable hours between school and home, without regard to social, racial, ethnic or religious background. www.bgccc.org
About City House
City House is dedicated to providing homeless children and teens in North Texas with emergency shelter and transitional residential services. www.cityhouse.org
About TMA
TMA’s Hard Hats for Little Heads is made possible through a grant from the association’s philanthropic arm, the TMA Foundation, thanks to top donors — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, Prudential, and an anonymous foundation — and gifts from physicians and their families. Since the program began, physicians and their families have given away more than 130,000 helmets to Texas children.
TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing more than 46,000 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 120 component county medical societies around the state. TMA’s key objective since 1853 is to improve the health of all Texans.
About The Plano Bicycle Association
The Plano Bicycle Association (PBA) is a non-profit bicycle club located in Plano, Texas with 620 road cyclists. The PBA’s mission is to foster a safe and fun group riding experience for PBA members, and to promote cycling education and bicycle advocacy in the North Texas area. For more information, visit www.planobicycle.org. “Come Ride With Us”™
