For the fifth year in a row, Mayor Jane Castor and community partners will make surprise deliveries of brand new bikes to deserving kids throughout the City of Tampa, in collaboration with onbikes, powered by Microlumen, and supported by Tampa General Hospital.
The onbikes 50-foot Gasparilla parade float will lead a series of Chadwell Supply trucks filled with bicycles for children who are members of the Tampa Parks and Recreation After-School Program. The event will take place Friday, December 15th, with the first giveaway beginning at 3pm at Fair Oaks Park Community Center, followed with another bicycle giveaway at Cyrus Greene. Mayor Jane Castor will be personally handing out bikes to children at both locations.
“Every child deserves the pure joy of owning a bike, and being a part of their happiness is truly heartwarming,” Mayor Jane Castor said. “This event is a beautiful reminder of unity during this special time of year. ”
Providing bikes to kids leads to new opportunities for health, wellness, and fun. A bike can create a new way for a child to explore their community or serve as a transportation option for teens who need to get to school or work.
“We’re overjoyed to collaborate once again with the City of Tampa, ensuring the longevity of this wonderful initiative,” Co-Founder of onbikes, Julius Tobin said. “At onbikes, we believe in the transformative power of a bicycle – it’s more than just a means of transport; it’s a vehicle of hope and opportunity. It’s truly remarkable how something as humble as a bike can have such a profound impact on a child’s life.”
Bikes Give-Away Event Schedule:
2:20pm: Float staging at the Penny Saver Lot (4915 N 34th St)
3:00pm – 3:30pm: Mayor’s Arrival, Bike presentation at Fair Oaks (5019 N 34th St.)
3:30pm – 3:50pm: Travel to Cyrus Greene (2101 E MLK Blvd)
3:50pm – 4:30pm: Bikes at Cyrus Greene
4:30pm – 5:00pm: Bike presentation at Cyrus Greene
Caroling and bike deliveries is done from the onbikes 50-foot Gasparilla parade float.
onbikes is a Tampa based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was formed in 2011 when a group of friends organized a community bike ride during the winter holiday season to raise funds so at-risk kids could receive their very first bike.
