All donations support programs targeting Middle and High School students in South Arlington. 60% and 70% of program participants receive subsidized lunch, as do nearly half of the students in our target region (comprising Gunston, Kenmore, Jefferson, and Wakefield schools). Many of these students are at-risk for gang behavior and benefit from extra academic support, strong mentors, and safe after-school activities. Our students are often those who opt out of traditional programs, but who are self-motivated and have potential to become leaders in their peer groups and families. Phoenix Bikes works to graduate participants into colleges, apprenticeships, or business internships. Further, the service provided by Youth Mechanics is vital to many in the community who cannot afford commercial bike shops.
Since March, nearly 100 youth mechanics have participated in shop activities and logged thousands of hours. Half of the youth enrolled themselves in the program completed skills checklist and 25 hours necessary to earn a bike. Outreach activities in 2007 reached over 250 additional students. These events ranged from tire-changing competitions in schools, bike repair for school bike clubs, and bike checks with Teen Arlington to more in-depth events including family workshops, peer-led sessions, and distribution of helmets to families unable to afford them. With youth mechanics and over forty new volunteers, Phoenix Bikes recycled over 210 bicycles in 2007 and provided hundreds of repairs, most at no cost. Twenty-five bikes were donated through Working Wheels and family outreach, while the remaining 185 were sold to community members at an average $73 to sustain shop programs.
On top of these accomplishments, our service to the region's cyclists earned us the Staff Pick as Best Bike Shop in DC in the Washington CityPaper!
Because Phoenix Bikes is small and benefits greatly from much volunteer and in-kind support, each donation has an immediate and significant impact on programs that serve Arlington youth. Donations are used to purchase safety equipment for the shop and youth rides, tools and parts for youth learning, enrichment materials for academic support, staff time for extra youth events, transportation for outreach events, and more.
What your support can mean:
$10 = 1 Helmet for a program participant
$50 = Snacks, transportation and supplies for Team Phoenix Youth Ride
$100 = Program Support for 1 Youth in our Earn-A-Bike program
$500 = Program Support for 1 Community Mechanic
$1500 = Support for 1 “Community Leader” Youth Intern
$5000 = Program Support for an off-site Earn-A-Bike program
