SAN JOSE For Aaliyah Rosete, the VHFlyer 700C bicycle was more than just a shiny new pair of wheels to cruise around San Jose — it was also her first opportunity to feel the joy and freedom o…
Volunteer Tom Shoup, right, helps Nathaniel Beltran, 12, and his grandfather Abel Beltran with Nathaniel’s bicycle at TurningWheels For Kids, a program run by the the Valley Health Foundation, in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. Wish Book for Valley Health Foundation.
“Often, these kids just needed to get more exercise for health reasons, and so she put two and two together,” Shoup said. “Organically, word got around that this crazy nurse was raising money and building bikes, and it grew and grew.” Valley Health Foundation, the fundraising arm of Santa Clara County’s hospital system, eventually caught wind of this effort and folded TWFK into its larger philanthropy work.Historically, TWFK has primarily relied on grassroots fundraising, such as individual online donations and corporate-sponsored events spearheaded by both small local businesses and Silicon Valley tech heavyweights, which can build between 20 to 100 bikes.
“Right now, we don’t have enough bikes to provide for the requests that we’re receiving from the community,” Ochoa said, noting that VHF also oversees similar county hospital programs such as Bike Rx, which helps the Pediatric Healthy Lifestyles Clinic dole out bicycles to children with high BMIs. “Knowing that we live in one of the most expensive places in the U.S., lots of families are living in apartments or even just renting rooms.
Nathaniel Beltran, 12, tests his newly fixed bike next to his grandfather Abel Beltran at TurningWheels For Kids, a program run by the the Valley Health Foundation, in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. Wish Book for Valley Health Foundation. Jonathan Martinez takes his son’s newly fixed bike to his truck at TurningWheels For Kids, a program run by the the Valley Health Foundation, in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. Wish Book for Valley Health Foundation.
Volunteer Ayre Green, right, pushes a bicycle he fixed at TurningWheels For Kids, a program run by the the Valley Health Foundation, in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. Wish Book for Valley Health Foundation. Volunteers Tom Shoup, left, and Stephen Walker work on a bike for TurningWheels For Kids, a program run by the the Valley Health Foundation, in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. Wish Book for Valley Health Foundation.
Volunteer Javier de la Cruz takes a bike to be fixed at TurningWheels For Kids, a program run by the the Valley Health Foundation, in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. Wish Book for Valley Health Foundation.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Wish Book: San Jose State expungement program can change lives of everyone involvedThe Record Clearance Project has helped more than 1,000 people overcome their criminal pasts to get a clean slate and drastically improve their future prospects.
Read more »
Wish Book: Kids need a better space to play at San Jose Day NurseryReaders’ donations could help the child education center in downtown San Jose upgrade its outdoor play area.
Read more »
Nvidia partners with City of San Jose and San Jose State University on AI trainingNavigating the world of artificial intelligence can be complex as there are benefits and also pitfalls.
Read more »
Sharks’ top goalie prospect left solid impression during NHL stintSan Jose Sharks return Yaroslav Askarov to San Jose Barracuda, recall defenseman Jack Thompson.
Read more »
Make-A-Wish helps teen grant a wish with a purposePosition: Reporter
Read more »
Wish Book: Bay Area organization helps first-generation college students succeedThe Peninsula College Fund provides first-generation, low-income students from San Mateo and Santa Clara counties the resources and finances to graduate college and achieve their career goals.
Read more »