South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Kids ready to ride on holiday break with donated bicycles
Since October, the Rick Case Bikes for Kids program has been asking the community to donate bikes in good condition to be distributed to South Florida’s children in need. Eight Rick Case dealerships in Davie, Sunrise and Fort Lauderdale were the drop-off points for the drive that is celebrating its 38th year.
The first group from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County received their bikes on Dec. 14 at Rick Case Honda in Davie with Santa Claus and the Case family visiting with the children.
“We’ve asked our community to bring in a bike in good condition they no longer needed so it could be donated to children that wouldn’t have an opportunity to own a bicycle. It’s a win-win for everyone,” Rita Case, widow of South Florida auto sales magnate Rick Case and CEO of Rick Case Automotive Group, said in an earlier statement. “The community would feel philanthropic being able to help a child and the children would be thrilled to have a bike of their own, many for the very first time.”
On Dec. 19, the program visited the Rick Case Habitat Community in Pompano Beach to deliver bikes to homeowners. Rita Case along with Nancy Robin, president/CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Broward, and Santa Claus took over the community’s park to meet and greet the children.
Featuring 9 acres and 77 homes, it’s the largest Habitat community ever built in Broward County, according to the nonprofit organization.
The Rick Case Bikes for Kids program was launched in 1982 by Rita and Rick Case and the Rick Case Automotive Group in Ohio at their 14 bicycle stores. The program has provided over 125,000 bikes to children during the holidays since then.