Thanks to the efforts of local businesses and the nonprofit organization Wish for Wheels, 120 students in Grand County will soon experience the joy of owning a brand-new bike.
Wish for Wheels, a Denver-based nonprofit, has partnered with the Synergy Company, Moab Cares Group, We Wave, Architectural Squared, and Moab Geotechnical to provide bikes to all second-grade students at Helen M. Knight Elementary and second/third graders at the Moab Charter School.
Greg Greenwood, executive director of Wish for Wheels, lives in Moab and said that he felt moved to bring the success of the organization to his home turf.
“We’ve always believed that bikes can change lives,” Greenwood said. “Our goal is to provide as many children as possible with bikes, ensuring they have the tools to be mobile, active, and healthy.”
The group is looking for more organizations to get involved and sponsor the effort ahead of a day-long event on September 30. Rather than solely reaching out for donations, Wish for Wheels works with organizations to have their employees come together for a special day of working to build high-quality bikes, then give them away to students and see the fruits of their labor race across a park.
“We’ve been searching for ways to support youth in the community,” said Zachariah Levine, director of people and sustainability at The Synergy Company. “While Moab is known as a mountain biking capital, many families here can’t afford to provide their kids with bikes. This is an opportunity to help level the playing field.”
The Synergy Company schedules company-wide seasonal volunteer days as part of its mission, and Levine said that Wish for Wheels was a perfect fit.
“I asked around and called local bike shops and organizations to make sure these bikes were a good fit for Moab kids, technically and quality-wise,” said Levine. “People told me that for every kid here who has a top-of-the-line mountain bike, there are five with no bike at all. It’s great to get involved in changing that.”
Volunteers will also be trained to help with any future maintenance the children may need for their new bikes.
Greenwood said he hopes that this will be the first of many similar projects in Moab, expanding the reach of Wish for Wheels.
For the students receiving bikes, the project represents more than just a gift – it’s a chance to be part of Moab’s vibrant outdoor culture, whether they’re exploring local trails or simply riding through their neighborhoods.
“There is nothing better than seeing a kid go for the first ride on one of these bikes,” said Greenwood. “Absolutely nothing.”
To get involved with the Wish For Wheel Moab Event, contact ambassador Emily Thompson at emily@wishforwheels.org or go online to wishforwheels.org.
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