Bikes For Tykes of Tulsa
Bikes for Tykes of Tulsa provides bicycles from donated funds to needy children in the Tulsa area.
They have a partnership with Academy Sports where they buy bikes to give away. In 2008 Jason Whorton and his brother-in-law Tommy Chavez were looking for a way to give back to the community. At that time Whorton traveled to Seattle for a team meeting with his company and there they worked with Bikes For Tykes. After Whorton's experience with Bikes For Tykes in Seattle, Whorton and Chavez founded Bikes for Tykes of Tulsa. Whorton says there are about 24 independent chapters of Bikes for Tykes across the US. During Bikes for Tykes of Tulsa's first year of operation they donated 22 bikes to Family & Children's Services with support from family and friends. In the past 3 years, support and donations have grown exponentially and the organization was able to raise more than $25,000 in 2011 donating 400 bicycles to children around the Tulsa area. In 2012, Bikes for Tykes of Tulsa hopes to double their previous year with a fundraising goal of $50,000 for 800 bicycles. Bikes for Tykes is supported by Pepsi, Safe Kids, Tulsa Drillers, and local businesses. With increased goals, Bikes for Tykes is looking for additional businesses who are able to donate time, fundraising supplies, and financial means to support the mission of providing bicycles. A helmet is given with each bicycle. Bikes for Tykes has given away hundreds of bicycles and helmets to local at-risk schools, foster care programs, obesity conferences, area fitness events, and Family & Children's Services.
The organization's website has additional information about Bikes for Tykes of Tulsa. Their website is bftok.org. Their progress can also be followed on their facebook site at facebook.com/bftok. As an all volunteer organization, 100% of the proceeds go directly towards the purchase of new bicycles and helmets. Smaller bikes around 20 inches and below cost around $50 and larger bikes around 24 inches are approximately $100 each. Family and Children Services has a program for women in recovery and Bikes for Tykes has donated bikes to women in this program. Whorton says a couple of women who received bicycles from them also had children who received bicycles as well. This year Bikes for Tykes will give away their 1,000th bicycle. First quarter this year bikes are being donated to Stand in the Gap. Through Stand in the Gap, the following organizations will receive bicycles: The Bair Foundation, Friends of Foster Families, Eagle Ridge Agency, Women in Transition, and Tulsa Hope Academy. Second quarter 2012 Bikes for Tykes is donating to Youth Services of Tulsa. Third quarter Youth at Heart will receive Bikes for Tykes bikes. And in the Fourth quarter around Christmas, Family & Children's Services will receive bikes for the fifth consecutive year.
Sunday June 24th at 7:05pm is an event at the Tulsa Drillers Ballpark. Volunteers are needed for this event as Bikes for Tykes of Tulsa will give away 500 goodie bags with a water bottle, safety literature, information about their program, stickers, and other fun items for kids. Also the Drillers are giving away 500 cereal bowls. In addition to the goody bags, 200 helmets will be personally fit and given away at the Bikes for Tykes booth at the ballpark. Bikes for Tykes of Tulsa is always looking for organizations to work with as well as donations for bikes and helmets.
