I-Can-Shine
photo c. of iCan Shine via Park Tool

Park Tool, the largest maker of bicycle tools and all things blue has always been a big advocate for those in need, especially when something needs fixed. Park Tool announced their 2016 Community Tool Grant recipients where 10 deserving groups that make a difference in people’s lives by getting them on bikes receive $1,400 in Park Tool products to use to help keep those bikes rolling.

Check out the inspirational winners after the break…

Park-Tool_Hawkins

Over 200 non-profits applied for the grants this year from all corners of the world to which only ten grant recipients will receive over $1,400 in Park Tool products including:

  • 1 – Park Tool PK-2 Professional Mechanic Tool Kit
  • 2 – Park Tool PCS-10 Portable Repair Stands
  • 1 – Park Tool BBB-3 Big Blue Book of Bicycle Repair

Eric Hawkins, Park Tool’s president/owner and chief mechanic:

We were truly blown away by the quantity and quality of the applicants for the ten Park Tool Community Tool Grants this year. It’s great to see so many people and organizations doing amazing things in their communities to help get more people on bikes. Though we wish we could have helped more this year, we encourage those who didn’t receive a grant in 2016 to reapply next year for consideration in 2017

The 2016 Park Tool Community Tool Grant Winners are:
YMCA of Kingston and Ulster County – Kingston, NY
The YMCA of Kingston and Ulster County, New York, repairs donated bicycles for lower income
individuals who use them for daily transportation as well as offering after school youth cycling
programs.
Seacoast Velokids – Portsmouth, NH
Based in coastal New Hampshire, Seacoast VeloKids (SVK) promotes youth mountain biking
through a series of development programs and one day events and races that make it easier for
kids to get out and ride
​
iCan Shine – Paoli, PA
iCan Shine is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that provides quality recreational programs to
individuals with disabilities across the US and Canada with their flagship program iCan Bike. It
teaches children, teens and young adults to ride a two wheel bicycle during a week long program
Rockville Bike Hub – Rockville, MD
The Rockville Bike Hub is a community based non profit bike shop that puts on Tour de Cookie, a yearly charity ride supporting the Tree House, a Montgomery County group that assists children who are victims of abuse or neglect as well as other city based programs to promote youth cycling
Rubarb Community Bike Shop – New Orleans, LA
A community bike shop in an area of New Orleans greatly affected by Hurricane Katrina helping people who use bicycles for daily transportation as well as an Earn A bike program.
Chain Reaction Ministries – Houston, TX
A ministry of adult bicycle recycling that takes unwanted bikes, refurbish them, and put them back into the community with assistance ministries working to address the needs of folks trying to avoid homelessness.
Living Streets Alliance – Tucson, AZ
In cooperation with the city of Tucson, Living Streets Alliance (LSA) is in its second year of running a region-wide Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program as well as a Mobile Bike Repair program for children who are unable to get their bikes into a shop for repair.
Reno Bike Project – Reno, NV
Reno Bike Project’s offers programs, classes, access to tools and knowledge, and a full-service community bike shop, located off the downtown strip, in close proximity to other services used by Reno’s poor and homeless populations.
Cycles 4 Hope – Granite Bay, CA
Cycles 4 Hope repairs and refurbishes donated bicycles to prepare them for use by homeless people and others in need of a bicycle as their primary means of transportation, collaborating with many local and regional social services, government, and religious organizations to maximize the impact of their work.
Knowles Centre Inc. – Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
The Knowles Centre is a non-profit organization that offers treatment to youth who have experienced extremely difficult situations throughout their young lives, using bicycles, bicycle repair and recreation as tools for healthy development.
Recipients of the Park Tool Community Tool Grants will receive their products in the coming
weeks.

5 COMMENTS

  1. Way to go PARK!!! Helping to support IcanShine is fantastic generosity. My son learned to ride because of them, and he is going strong. Super proud of PARK for this!

  2. That photo of iCan Shine is beyond inspirational. Really puts a smile on my face and made my day. And I am going to see how I can help the organization. Can’t think of anything better than sharing my love of riding with others.

  4. As a helper with IcanShine last year, it was awesome to see individuals rise to the challenge and learn how to ride a bike in one week!

  5. The IcanShine bikes are some interesting creations, crazy small diameter wide tapered roller rear wheel, super long extended sheerer, handle on the back, and a frame that is way too small for the rider. Probably worth an article in itself.

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