Tech Square Helps Kids Ride into a Happier Future with Free Bikes 4 Kidz Atlanta
gifting the freedom of a first bike
This past fall, Tech Square collected abandoned bikes to donate to the Atlanta chapter of Free Bikes 4 Kidz (FB4K). This marks the second time Tech Square has donated bikes to give kids a happier, healthier future.
FB4K is a national nonprofit focused on collecting and refurbishing gently used bikes to donate to children in underprivileged areas. FB4K Atlanta began in 2016 and has since worked with schools, neighborhood associations, and corporations to gather bikes from the community and refurbish them. The group is made up of cyclists who want to give the joy of a first bike to those who need it most.
However, according to Brian Reed, the Treasurer and a Board Member at FB4K Atlanta, gifting a first bike is about much more than fun and physical activity. “A bike can give a kid agency, freedom, challenges, exercise, focus, happiness, social connections, mobility, and mechanical skills. And the impact goes beyond the child,” said Reed.
The Atlanta chapter celebrated its 10th annual Giveaway Day on Saturday, Dec. 13. The event was a heartwarming occasion, with all the chapter’s hard work coming to fruition, and a few hundred refurbished bikes and helmets were given away.
Jonathan Cornelius, the Portfolio Property Services Manager at Collaborative Real Estate and Tech Square, has previously volunteered with FB4K Atlanta and says the volunteer effort benefits not only the children receiving the donations but also the Tech Square community. “This kind of action reinforces that Tech Square is more than just a collection of buildings. It is an active part of the surrounding community and pays attention to how its choices affect the city around it,” said Cornelius.
“When I talk to a group about Free Bikes for Kidz Atlanta, I usually start by asking, ‘do you remember your first bike?’ When that question sinks in - just a bit - the FB4KATL mission takes on a flood of meaning.”
How You Can Help
If you’re interested in giving a child the joy and freedom of a first bike, the chapter accepts donations through:
Individual donations of adult bikes, children’s bikes, and tricycles
Group bike collections
Financial donations
Learn more about donating here.