ATLANTA — Promoting physical and academic development, the Atlanta Falcons Youth Fund (AFYF), an associate-led fund of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, and American Family Insurance today announced a partnership with All Kids Bike – a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit – whose mission is to teach every child in America to ride a bike in kindergarten PE class. Through this partnership, All Kids Bike will provide 11 elementary schools in Metro Atlanta with its Kindergarten PE Learn-to-Ride Program.
Through the Kindergarten PE Learn-to-Ride Program, each school will receive a fleet of 24 Strider balance-to-pedal bikes, teacher training and certification, fully adjustable student helmets, an instructor bike with pedal conversion kit and helmet, two rolling storage racks and access to a resource portal with live support for the life of the program. By introducing biking as in-school education, the program helps build confidence, coordination, and a sense of personal achievement in young students.
“Learning to ride a bike is a child’s first step into the world of active play,” said Lisa Weyer, executive director of All Kids Bike. “Thanks to the Atlantic Falcons Youth Fund and American Family Insurance, children in Atlanta schools now have the opportunity to learn to ride, build confidence, and develop healthy habits—strengthening both their skills and the community.”
Schools were eligible to apply for the program through All Kids Bike, and with the help of members of the Atlanta Falcons Youth Fund, the following 11 schools were selected for the program.
Allgood Elementary School – Stone Mountain, Ga.
Brumby Elementary School – Marietta, Ga.
Burgess-Peterson Academy – Atlanta, Ga.
Doraville United – Doraville, Ga.
Gray Elementary – Gray, Ga.
Heritage Academy – Atlanta, Ga.
Kay R. Pace Elementary School of the Arts – Jonesboro, Ga.
KIPP Woodson Park Academy – Atlanta, Ga.
Lille E. Suder Elementary School – Jonesboro, Ga.
Main Street Academy – College Park, Ga.
Taylor Creek Elementary School – Hinesville, Ga.
“Increasing the time kids spend in physical activity is at the core of the Atlanta Falcons Youth Fund,” said AMB Sports and Entertainment Senior Vice President of Community Engagement and Sports Philanthropy Chris Millman. “We are thrilled to partner with American Family Insurance to further All Kids Bike’s mission and bring their programming to schools in metro Atlanta. We hope when kids learn to ride through this program, they feel a sense of accomplishment, gain confidence and learn a skill they will use to remain active throughout their lives.”
To celebrate the announcement, Atlanta Falcons players, cheerleaders and Freddie Falcon, along with American Family Insurance agents and representatives from All Kids Bike recently surprised Kindergarteners at Burgess-Peterson Academy and Kipp Woodson Park Academy with the Strider bikes and were on-hand to see the kids’ first rides.