The United Way of Southwestern PA’s Build-A-Bike volunteer event, now in its 6th cycle, is back at Heinz Field on June 19. 75 corporate volunteer teams are gearing up to serve as “roll models” as they build bikes for and with 150 8-to-10 year olds from underserved communities. Based on math that means each team must achieve bicycles built for two!
For those two-tired of old-fashioned team-building experiences United Way’s Build-A-Bike volunteer event is a great way to pump up teams and challenge them with something new because they will literally have to build bikes from scratch. Fortunately the scratch is provided and guidance will be given as the teams crank, jam, and otherwise work their way through the mechanics of bike building. Also, fortunately, at the end experts inspect and test the bikes before the kids pedal away on them –after all these are not professional bike builders but professionals building bikes.
What coworkers wouldn’t enjoy a brake from the office and a chance to shift gears for a day? What 8, 9, or 10 year old wouldn’t wheelie love a chance to brag to their friends that they helped build their own bike? This great teamwork event pairs physical fun with mentorship and community. After the day’s final stage the kids will ride away with a sweet “I made it” feeling along with a personalized license plate for that sweet new ride and stellar new bike riding skills –like balancing, turning, braking, and the importance of wearing your helmet (because new helmets will also be given to each of the kids).
All corporate spots are already filled this year, and Made in PGH will be one of the teams trying to handle(bar) all excitement. We’ll be sharing a “Built-A-Bike” follow-up post about our day’s adventures (spoiler alert: there will be bike puns!). And if you like the sound of this event be sure to pedal over to their signup page next year when the event rolls around again or check out how you can still help this year.
