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HDR Foundation funds All Kids Bike program at Rivera Elementary, supplies 24 balance bikes and five-year support
Summary
The HDR Foundation, in partnership with the Sunnyside Foundation and Pima County District 5, donated equipment and a five-year support plan to launch an All Kids Bike program at Rivera Elementary that organizers say will teach kindergarten students how to ride and practice bike safety.
The HDR Foundation donated equipment and a five‑year support plan to the Sunnyside Unified School District to establish the All Kids Bike program at Rivera Elementary, district officials said at the board meeting.
The donation included 24 Strider balance bikes, 24 pedal conversion kits, 24 adjustable helmets, an instructor bike and a five‑year support plan, presenter Michael Barton said. Barton identified himself as representing HDR and said the gift came from the company’s employee-driven philanthropy.
The program aims to teach kindergarten students bike balance before introducing pedals, a method presenters said shortens the learning curve and builds student confidence. "This gift is from the employees of HDR," Barton said. "We raised all the money internally to fund this foundation."
Rivera staff who spoke during the presentation described immediate classroom impact after equipment delivery. A Rivera teacher said the display moment—lifting a parachute to reveal the bikes—produced strong student excitement, and that within minutes some children were already riding. "The smiles is worth every penny," the teacher said, describing early sessions run in a gymnasium.
District staff and partners described the donation as part of a multi‑partner grant that included HDR Foundation, Pima County District 5 and the Sunnyside Foundation, and credited the Strider Education Foundation for the equipment model. Presenters said the program will teach bike safety and help students who lack access to bikes at home.
The district invited HDR representatives to receive letters from the kindergarten classes and planned to display the students’ notes in donor offices, the presenter said. Organizers also discussed plans to expand bike clubs and the need for additional bike racks if demand grows.
Why it matters: district officials said the program addresses equity and childhood physical activity, giving young students a structured way to learn a practical transportation skill and to be more active during the school day.
