The Philadelphia Business Journal has announced its Faces of Philanthropy for 2023. One of the honorees is the partnership between the Flyers Alumni Association and Help Hope Live in the “Every Child Deserves a Bike” initiative that was initially launched in 2020. The program, which provides fully customized adaptive bicycles to special-needs children in the Delaware Valley, has been life-changing for many of the recipients.
Help Hope Live identifies recipients and works with their families, while the Alumni fund the construction costs and then donate the adaptive bikes in person. To date, 18 bikes have been donated with several upcoming donations scheduled.
Insurance companies generally refuse to play for adaptive bikes (which can cost between $5,000 to $7,500 to custom build), even though the benefits of therapeutic use for muscular development and more independent mobility have long been established. The “Every Child Deserves a Bike” program, which is entirely funded through the generous donations of individual Flyers fans and private sector sponsors, provides the adaptive bikes free of charge to the recipient children.
For the full list of Philadelphia Business Journal 2023 Faces of Philanthropy honorees, click here. To learn more about “Every Child Deserves a Bike” or to donate — any amount is greatly appreciated — click here.