Bikes for Change Helps Assemble 175 New Bikes for Kids

Tucson business leader and philanthropist Jim Click and community volunteers were on hand Nov. 7 to assemble 175 new bikes for Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson members. The build is part of El Tour Bikes for Change, which equips Tucson youth with new bikes, helmets, locks and lights every year.

“In my 40 years of leading and supporting Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson, I have witnessed the impact of community support on children,” Click said. “When a kid knows that an entire community is behind them, it makes a difference. A bike provides a child with freedom, confidence, and a healthy means of transportation. This is why I advocate for youth cycling in Tucson. My vision is to move beyond simply providing kids with bikes; I want to implement bike skills and safety programs at our Clubs, ensuring that every child learns to ride effectively and safely.”

The build came two weeks before the 43rd El Tour de Tucson on Nov. 21. All seven BGCT Clubhouse teams are raising funds through El Tour and are on track for their $350,000 fundraising goal ($50,000 per Clubhouse). Every dollar stays with the team’s Clubhouse in Tucson neighborhoods, Pascua Yaqui, and Safford, with every Clubhouse raising funds through its El Tour Team.

“Jim Click was a catalyst when El Tour launched Bikes for Change five years ago,” said TJ Juskiewicz, executive director of El Tour America. “We shared a vision of equipping Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson kids with bikes, and Jim backed that vision with his network and funding. Since then, we’ve expanded to reach youth at Amphi, Aviva, CarePortal, Davis-Monthan and others. We just launched El Tour Foundation to cover future financial needs with Jim as our Board Advisor.”

Bikes for Change has given new bikes, helmets, locks and lights to more than 6,000 Tucson kids over the past five years. Since 1983, El Tour has helped partner nonprofits raise more than $138 million.

Photo courtesy El Tour Bikes for Change