[Lincoln, NE – November 8, 2023]: The HDR Foundation, in collaboration with All Kids Bike, is thrilled to announce the expansion of the All Kids Bike Learn-to-Ride Kindergarten PE Program to Pershing Elementary, a Title 1 elementary school in Lincoln, Nebraska. This initiative aims to instill the joy of bike riding and promote essential life skills in young learners, supported by the presence of Governor Jim Pillen.
The All Kids Bike Kindergarten Learn-to-Ride Program comprises a comprehensive package, featuring 24 bikes, pedal conversion kits, helmets, one teacher instruction bike, and certified curriculum teacher training. These resources provide all the essentials to guide children from balancing to riding a bike in just eight lessons. The program was successfully introduced at Pershing Elementary, thanks to the generous funding provided by the HDR Foundation, a dedicated supporter of education, healthy communities, and environmental stewardship.
“Only one in four children will get on a bike in the course of a year, so teaching this skill gives kids an incredible sense of confidence and joy,” said Rex Fisher, chair of the HDR Foundation Board of Directors. “HDR is grateful to be part of a program that promotes healthy habits and builds good memories for a lifetime.”
Lisa Weyer, executive director of the Strider Education Foundation, the non-profit behind All Kids Bike, emphasized the importance of early bike riding education, saying, “The ability to ride a bike develops physical and mental well-being, instilling confidence, and fostering better classroom focus. Teaching bike riding at the kindergarten level focuses on enhancing gross motor skills, balance, and coordination. By introducing bike riding as an essential skill in public schools, we are equipping children with knowledge and a positive foundation for a lifelong skill.”
The program reveal was celebrated at Pershing Elementary, where donor representatives from HDR were gathered alongside Governor Pillen and school representatives for the bike delivery to a very excited group of kindergartners! The students were surprised with the bike reveal and were then able to take the new bikes for a spin. This event serves to represent a multi-school gift in which HDR provided a donation of $150,000 to All Kids Bike in the 2022-2023 school year, designating $18,000 to three schools in Nebraska, where HDR employees live and work.
At Pershing Elementary, this program will positively impact approximately 75 kindergarten students each year. With a lifespan of 7-10 years for the equipment, it is estimated that up to 750 students will benefit from this initiative over the next decade.
Dana Wendelin, Pershing PE teacher who applied for the program shared, “This program will impact students by providing them an opportunity to receive and learn to ride a bike. It will provide coordination, teamwork skills, and more. Our population of students do not always have the chance to learn to ride a bike, and we are thankful to HDR and All Kids Bike for providing this opportunity to them!”
The HDR Foundation and All Kids Bike are dedicated to enriching the lives of young learners and fostering valuable skills through the joy of bike riding. This collaborative effort exemplifies their commitment to building healthier, happier communities, one pedal at a time.
