Friends,
 It's not often that we get to put a face on your generosity...
Jackson Goodwin (L), a fourth grader, and Mayra Martinez-Gonzales,
a fifth grader, sport their new bikes. Students at
Clear Creek Elementary School and members of the Right Moves
for Youth school club, Jackson and Mayra earned the bikes
as “most improved” in their groups. These
are 2 of the 100 bikes and helmets donated to Right Moves
for Youth by The Spokes Group to use as incentives to club
members for improved school performance.We are currently
negotiating with CMS to offer some bikes for reading incentives.
For the first time in 14 years we fell short in 2008 of donations to pay for
the bikes we purchased. We were off 14% of our total costs.
In
addition to Christmas Bureau bikes (1600 bikes), we have supported organizations
making a difference in our community with young people. This year we
increased our donations to both The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Clubs (180)
and to Right Moves for Youth (100).
100 cents of every dollar ever raised by
the Spokesgroup has purchased bikes and helmets.
Special
Report: Read the Charlotte Observer report
on The Spokes Group and The 2008 Salvation Army Christmas
Bureau. |
"FOLLOW THE BIKES"
The Spokesgroup in December, 2005 provided 3 bikes through the Department of Social Services to a social worker with Behavioral Health Services which is part of the CMC Mental Health program.
LETTERS FROM CONTRIBUTORS:
"I am a 77 yr. old lady that was raised in a country preacher's home in eastern N. C. I never had a bike. I always filled out the form in the Montgomery Ward catalog, but never got to send it in. So now I can buy a bike, but I can't ride it. Funny how life goes. So last year I bought a bike for a little boy in Virginia through my grand-daughter-this year I do it thru you." Laverne L. Talbert March 15,1924-July 21, 2005
We are writing to let you know what a wonderful and positive project you are undertaking and to offer a suggestion for other businesses that buy holiday gifts for their clients. Every Christmas our company buys corporate gifts for folks we work with during the year. However, as we all know, there is an abundance of fruitcakes, cookies and other holiday confections to go around. Last year we decided to give that money to the Spokes Group to buy bicycles and helmets for needy children.
We mailed one of your ‘in honor of’ cards to each person we bought a gift of a bike in their honor. The response we received was amazing! Folks wrote us saying how appreciative they were for this honor, and no one seemed to miss the corporate gifts we usually sent! Beverly Phillips wrote “What a wonderful idea! I can’t think of anything I would like better.” We believe in a season of plentiful gifts, it is much more rewarding to help those with so little.
Jim & Anne Comer/CBH Pensions
Greetings Spokes Group! My Student Council at Community House Middle School has decided to support the Spokes Group this holiday season. CHMS is in south Charlotte and is a brand new school. We currently serve 5th and 6th grade students and will add a grade level for the next two years.
This is a very caring community. We have raised close to $20,000 for Katrina victims, Unicef, Jump Rope for Heart and the Loaves and Fishes Campaign. We are excited about our latest project. Our goal is 30 bikes and we will begin our project on Monday, December 5th.
Please let me know if there are any specific guidelines we must follow. I have thoroughly read your web site and look forward to many years of a positive relationship.
Gifford K. Lockley, Principal
Community House Middle School
9500 Community House Road
Charlotte, North Carolina 28277
Click to Read the Charlotte Observer Mecklenburg Neighbors Article
Just click Give a Bike! to learn more about how you can help.
DESIGN BY
All Rights Reserved © 2005, 2006
The Spokes Group |
