Rick Case's Bikes for Kids program celebrates 19th year Auto dealer Rick Case celebrated the 19th year of his "Rick Case Bikes for Kids" program, the holiday bike restoration campaign that benefits kids in need.
This program, in conjunction with the Boys and Girls Clubs collects, restores and distributes bikes to needy children who would not otherwise receive a bicycle for the holidays. Mr. Case set a 2000 goal of 10,000 bikes for distribution before Christmas.
For Mr. Case, the holiday effort started in 1982 when he owned a bike shop in northeast Ohio. He recalls that local kids would come in and stare at the shiny new bikes their parents could not afford to buy for them.
"I saw that look in their eyes and I knew there had to be something we could do to help," says Mr. Case. He began giving away 100 new bicycles that Christmas and asked local residents to donate any bikes they were not currently using.
"Practically everyone's had an old bike that ends up collecting dust in the garage, so why not clean out the garage and help a needy child during the holidays?" he says. "That's the beauty of this program, it works for everyone involved."
The program has spread from his dealerships in northeast Ohio to those in Georgia and Florida.
"The public really comes through by contributing bikes," says Mr. Case. "During the holidays our car showrooms look more like bicycle superstores."
