Bikes for Kids Foundation Prepares to Deliver More Than 300 Bikes to Local Children

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Dec. 1, 2023) – Today, more than 40 volunteers from organizations across the First Coast came together for the Bikes for Kids Foundation’s bike assembly event building more than 300 bikes to be distributed to students at four DCPS elementary schools next week.

This local initiative is being led by CoAqua NA, Inc., Co-Founder and Co-CEO Anthony M. Cadieux II who serves as the Southeast Regional Director for the Bikes for Kids Foundation and long-time supporter of the nonprofit’s mission. Bikes for Kids Foundation is a national charity, co-founded by Meadowlark Lemon, that provides bikes and helmets to Title 1 third-grade children as their first step in completing a three-year character-building program.

“Kids go through a program where they learn how to think big, work hard, be kind, no excuses; learning that in life, nothing is given to you, everything is earned,” said Cadieux. “Kids write an essay about what they want to be when they grow up and how those four principles will get them there. At the end of it, the kids think the top three essays are going to win a bike, but in the end, everyone earns a bike.”

The project is being supported by several local organizations including transportation provider, Trailer Bridge, Inc., who provided the logistical support to deliver all the bikes to locations throughout the city.

“We are proud to support the Bikes for Kids initiative here in Jacksonville,” said Jeff Vaughn, Chief Commercial Officer for Trailer Bridge. “Pairing our services with a project to support young people in our community is in line with our culture of service and commitment to loving our people, our customers, and the communities we serve across the nation.”

The Children’s Bike Award Ceremonies will take place on Monday, Dec. 4, and Tuesday, Dec. 5, at Lake Lucina Elementary School, Crown Point Elementary School, Jacksonville Heights Elementary School, and Bayview Elementary School.

“The Bikes for Kids Foundation goes way beyond just getting a bike. It is about the work that takes place – like dreaming big, working hard, being kind, no excuses,” said Paula Renfro, Chief Academic Officer with Duval County Public Schools. “It gives kids the understanding that when they work really hard toward a goal, that means something. And in the case of this program, for them it means a bike which also brings with it responsibility.”

For more information please visit www.bikesforkidsfoundation.org.

Trailer Bridge was founded in 1991 by industry pioneer Malcom McLean to serve the Caribbean market and has since expanded to be a full-service, asset-light logistics solution provider headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. Within the past three years, the company has added a Government Division solely focused on handling the movement of government freight, dedicated intermodal and less-than-truckload teams, and signed long-term lease agreements with both the Jacksonville Port Authority and Puerto Rico Ports Authority signaling its continued commitment to providing consistent weekly ocean service to the island. Learn more about the company atTrailerBridge.com.