June 11, 2010

Ideate Gives Back - Bike First! Event

Ideate is proud to be an active member of our local communities, through both our support of professional associations like the AIA and AGC, and individual volunteer efforts.

Craig H. Dodge, Ideate Director of Sales, and his family will volunteer at the upcoming Bike First! Event in Northeast Portland, joining Shawn Sullivan, AIA and his family. Ideate has been a sponsor of the Bike First! clinic for people with disabilities since 2007. Craig notes, “I volunteer – as do my wife Kim and our girls. It’s a good community cause which makes a big difference for the kids and parents involved. We enjoy the family component (and I like the t-shirt!)”
Riding a bike is something most of us take for granted. We learn to do it for fun as a kid, and as we grow up, it becomes a form of transportation, recreation or even competition. For people with disabilities, it’s not that easy. Bike First! uses specially developed bicycles on rollers to teach children and adults with special needs how to ride a traditional bicycle. Dozens of volunteers act as spotters, running alongside, encouraging and training the cyclists as they learn to ride on their own.

“In just one week, we typically help the majority of our participants learn to ride a real bicycle, on two wheels,” explains Ann Donaca-Sullivan, Bike First! Clinic Director. “You’ve never seen smiles on so many faces, including all of the volunteers.”

To learn more about Bike First! visit www.bikefirstlttw.com

To learn more about Ideate, visit www.ideateinc.com.