1,000 Bikes By December - Henry Ford, HAP Roll Out Collection Sites for for First Michigan Chapter of FreeBikes4Kidz

Henry Ford Medical Centers and HAP offices across metro Detroit will serve as 25 bicycle collection sites for the Free Bikes 4 Kidz program, Saturday, Oct. 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The purpose is simple: give bikes to kids unable to buy their own. The impact is big: give kids a way to go places, be active and basically enjoy a cherished childhood pastime.

Donors can drop off new and gently used bikes at any of the 23 Henry Ford Health System locations, including Dearborn, Grosse Pointe, Troy and Warren. Bikes will also be accepted at the HAP Detroit building located at 2850 W. Grand Blvd. in Detroit and the HAP Southfield Building located at 21700 Northwestern Highway in Southfield.

“Riding a bike as a kid gave me some of my best, happiest memories. We want to help kids be a kid, to give them those memories, to help them be healthy,” said Bob Barnes, executive director and founder of FB4K-Detroit. “We want to turn a thousand dusty bikes into a thousand shiny smiles.”

FB4K is a new area nonprofit operated by Barnes and two of his fellow bicycle-loving friends who reside in metro Detroit. They recently formed the Detroit chapter of the Minneapolis-based FB4K with the goal of collecting and giving out 1,000 bikes by December – in time for the holidays.

Bikes donated on Oct. 13 will be sent to a FB4K warehouse located in midtown Detroit. There, they will be stored, cleaned up, pumped up and refurbished, if necessary, before going to their new owners. Recipients are pre-selected by several established social service agencies. Volunteers are also needed to prep bikes for delivery: http://fb4kdetroit.org

Detroit-based real estate development firm, the Platform Group, donated the 12,000 square feet of warehouse space to FB4K.

Henry Ford Health System and HAP’s support FB4K-Detroit illustrates the organizations’ efforts to keep Detroit-area residents healthy and well. 

“HAP is proud to be supporting community-based programs like FB4K,” said Margaret Anderson, chief sales and marketing officer for HAP. “We live our mission and values by delivering programs that have an immediate and positive impact to the health and wellness of our community.”

Collaboration between healthcare organizations and community groups can transform neighborhoods and improve the well-being of entire communities. Henry Ford Health System’s partnership with FB4K is another great example.

“We hope this partnership and project will bring happiness to the kids,” said Paul Szilagyi, vice president of primary care and medical centers at Henry Ford Health System. “That’s why we are lending our financial and logistical support to FB4K, staffing collection sites with employee volunteers and working to spread the word to metro Detroiters who time again show their generosity.”

Media Contacts:

Kim North Shine, media relations                               Bob Barnes, executive director

Henry Ford Health System                                         Free Bikes 4 Kidz (FB4K)  

(313) 549-4995                                                           bob@fb4kdetroit.org

knorth1@hfhs.org      

NOTE: Volunteers, donors and representatives from Henry Ford Health System, HAP and FB4K are available for interviews throughout the day on Oct. 13.

8:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Henry Ford Medical Center – Cottage located at:

159 Kercheval Ave. in Grosse Pointe Farms

Noon – 6 p.m.

FB4K warehouse located at:

411 Piquette in Detroit