RAPID CITY, S.D. – April 25, 2024 – All Kids Bike,
the nonprofit organization equipping schools with everything needed
to teach children how to ride a bike, today announced that it was
awarded a grant of $108,000 from Yamaha Motor Corp. USA’s Outdoor
Access Initiative (OAI). This is the fourth grant from Yamaha,
bringing its total support to more than $300,000, and will continue
the partnership’s goal of activating the All Kids Bike Kindergarten
Learn-to-Ride PE Program in elementary schools across the country.
“Yamaha’s lasting and generous support is elevating the
educational experience for tens of thousands of kids across the
country,” said Lisa Weyer, executive director of the Strider
Education Foundation, the 501(c) (3) nonprofit that operates All
Kids Bike. “Yamaha, above all other brands in powersports, has
shown again its dedication to our mission to give every child in
America the opportunity to learn how to ride a bike in school.”
To date, Yamaha grants have supported All Kids Bike activations
in 27 schools, teaching more than 16,000 kindergarteners over the
10-year life of the program. Most of the schools are in communities
where Yamaha’s staff live and work. The list of schools benefitting
from All Kids Bike’s 2023 Yamaha OAI grant includes:
· 74th St Elementary (Los Angeles, CA)
· Virginia Road Elementary (Los Angeles, CA)
· Sugar Creek Elementary (Crawfordsville, IN)
· Pleasant Hill Elementary (Crawfordsville, IN)
· Sommer Elementary (Crawfordsville, IN)
· Columbine Elementary (Longmont, CO)
· Centennial Elementary (Loveland, CO)
· White Oak Elementary (Coweta County, GA)
· Moreland Elementary (Coweta County, GA)
· Welch Elementary (Coweta County, GA)
· David Gourley Elementary (Kearns, UT)
· Cleveland Avenue Elementary (Atlanta, GA)
“Yamaha’s partnership with All Kids Bike makes it possible for
thousands of kids across the country to learn how to ride a bike
and create opportunities to get outside and explore the world on
two wheels,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s motorsports marketing
manager. “There are few things more gratifying than to be a part of
kids experiencing something new, fun, and engaging, and we are
excited to expand access to adventure for more kids through the All
Kids Bike program.”
Each All Kids Bike Learn-to-Ride Kindergarten PE Program is
comprised of a fleet of 24 Strider bikes, pedal conversion kits,
helmets, a teacher instruction bike and helmet, 2 rolling metal
bike storage racks, SHAPE-standard curriculum, teacher training,
and organizational support from All Kids Bike for as long as a
school operates the program. It includes everything needed to teach
every incoming kindergarten student how to ride a bike for a decade
or longer.
Yamaha and Strider Bikes share a long connection; Strider
founder Ryan McFarland is a lifelong fan of the brand, and he
designed his first-ever prototype Strider balance bike in the
likeness of a Yamaha-blue dirt bike, complete with Yamaha stickers
and a #1 racing plate. With the success of Strider, McFarland
expanded his vision to teach kids to ride a bike with the creation
of the Strider Education Foundation and, in 2018, the introduction
of All Kids Bike.
About the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative
Since 2008, the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative has led the
powersports industry in supporting responsible access to our
nation’s public lands for outdoor enthusiasts. With more than $6
million contributed to over 475 projects across the country, Yamaha
has directly and indirectly supported thousands of miles of
motorized recreation trails, maintained and rehabilitated riding
and hunting areas, improved staging areas, supplied organizations
with essential OHV safety education, built bridges over
fish-bearing streams, helped children learn to ride bicycles, and
partnered with local outdoor enthusiast communities across the
country to improve access to public lands.
About All Kids Bike
The All Kids Bike Learn-to-Ride Kindergarten PE Program launched
in 2018 with a simple mission: to give every child in America the
opportunity to learn how to ride a bike in school. The program
includes everything needed to teach thousands of students at a
school for 7-10 years: teacher training and certification, a fleet
of 24 Strider bikes, pedal conversion kits, helmets, an
instructional bike and helmet for the teacher, 2 rolling metal bike
storage racks, and access to a resource portal and live support for
the life of the program. Supported by the Strider Education
Foundation, All Kids Bike Learn-to-Ride Kindergarten PE Programs
are active in over 1,300 schools across all 50 states, teaching
more than 100,000 kids to ride each year. In 2023, All Kids Bike
added an Inclusive Learn-to-Ride Program to empower middle and high
school students and adults with developmental disabilities with the
life skill of riding a bicycle. For more information, please visit
www.allkidsbike.org
Kari Hall
Strider Education Foundation - All Kids Bike
605-956-3877
kari@allkidsbike.org