Empowering youth one bike at a time
Cupertino, December 18, 2021 — Cupertino Rotary organized a Bike Drive and, in six weeks, was able to collect 39 used bikes of different sizes donated by individuals, families, and Mikes Bikes in Los Gatos. Cooperation with Good Karma Bikes, a non-profit bike repair shop in San Jose, allowed to refurbish the bikes and make them like new.
Uplift Family Services, a non-profit organization, distributed these bikes, together with helmets, and bike locks to their clients, at an Annual Holiday Giveaway on December 18, at their Gish Road Campus in San Jose. Volunteers from Cupertino Rotary attended the special event to help adjust bikes and helmets. It was a celebration of community!
Lisa De Golier – Good Karma Bikes
Bikes from Mike’s Bikes
Shyamoli Banerjee, Cupertino Rotary – Project champion
“Cupertino Rotary’s generous donation of bikes to foster and at-risk children served by Uplift Family Services allows them to experience the joy and spirit of the season, and the freedom and confidence that comes from owning a bike. It is a memory that will last a lifetime.” said Darren DeMonsi, Director of Development at Uplift Family Services.
Stanford Children’s Health donated the helmets and Rotary Club of Silicon Valley Passport donated the bike locks.
Left to right: Simon Purse – Uplift Family Services, Shyamoli Banerjee – Cupertino Rotary, Darren DeMonsi (Director of development) – Uplift Family Services
Left to right: Irmgard Lafrentz – Rotary, Taghi Saadati – Rotary, Darren De Monsi – Uplift, Shyamoli Banerjee – Rotary, Sunil Nethisinghe – Rotary, Helene Davis – Rotary
Biking is big in Cupertino:
Cupertino Rotary has two affinity bike groups, the Rotary Cruisers and Rotary Wheels.
President Rod Sinks, former mayor of Cupertino, strongly supports expanding bike lanes in the city to encourage students biking to school. Youth are empowered to ride to school, do errands, visit friends, and learn navigating their neighborhoods.
Sunil Nethisinghe, helping out
Taghi Saadati checking the fit of a helmet
The Uplift Family Services Sign
About
Cupertino Rotary is in District 5170, which has sixty-one clubs with 4,000 members in the California Bay Area. It is part of the Rotary International global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary International connects 1.2 million members of more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in over two hundred countries and geographical areas. Their work impacts lives at both the local and international levels.
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