For the fourth year in a row, attendees at October Research, LLC’s National Settlement Services Summit got together to help make a difference in the lives of area children.
Attendees took time out of their panel discussions, education and networking in Atlanta on Monday to help build 30 children’s bicycles and Big Wheels as part of the “Make a Child Smile” charity event, sponsored by Windward Consulting | Software and Adeptive. The bikes and corresponding helmets were presented to Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities on Tuesday afternoon.
“We are pleased to have Windward Consulting sponsor this philanthropic event for a fourth consecutive year,” said Erica Meyer, chief executive officer and publisher of October Research, LLC. “Building bikes for a local charity has become an important part of the annual event.”
Ronald McDonald House Charities is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the needs of children by providing temporary housing and support services to families of ill and injured children being treated at local hospitals.
The first Atlanta house opened 36 years ago, and was the fourth Ronald McDonald house opened in the world. The house has been home to more than 45,000 families, and last year served families from 135 Georgia counties and 16 states.
“We at Windward feel very privileged, blessed and honored to co-sponsor, alongside Adeptive, the annual ‘Make a Child Smile’ charity bike-building event,” said Curt Szymanski, president of Windward Consulting. “This is our fourth year sponsoring the event, and it is truly an awesome opportunity to contribute to such a deserving cause while also coming together with other NS3 attendees for such a fun and philanthropic event for kids. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all those who helped assemble the 30 bikes and riding toys, and are excited to deliver them to the children and families that rely on the Ronald McDonald House of Atlanta during very trying and difficult times in their lives; knowing that these children and families will enjoy the bikes and have fun together and ride them makes all this rewarding and worthwhile. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Adeptive, October Research and future children-centric organizations for years to come, as we’d love to ‘pay it forward’ at many more future events, for sure.”
The bikes were presented Tuesday to Ronald McDonald House, and Volunteer Services Manager Catherine Lewis said the gift was much more than a toy for the children at the home.
“These children and their families spend much of their days inside hospitals,” she said. “By providing these bikes, you are also providing these children with a chance to get out into the world. Imagine as a kid when you saddled up on your bike, even just to ride around the cul-de-sac. Riding a bike implants a sense of independence and freedom in a child. The children who stay at our house rarely get to be in charge of anything for themselves. Doctors and parents are helping them through every part of the day. On a bike, a child is free. Thank you for providing them with this joy.
“We are thrilled to be receiving these bikes. Many bikes will be used to help parents more easily transport their child to the hospital. Many more will be sent home with families once they are well enough to leave the Ronald McDonald House. What an amazing gift. Thank you,” Lewis said.