Indianapolis, IN ─ March 21, 2017 ─ Nine13sports has received a $300,000 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to expand Kids Riding Bikes program offerings in three school districts in central Indiana. This comes as Nine13sports continues to grow to meet the high demand for its innovative bicycle based education programs and services.
This grant will enable Nine13sports to bring its programs to 40 schools per year four times each over the next two years and allow for 40 community events and programs to also be served. This will include 30 IPS Schools as well as new opportunities for schools within Washington, Pike, and Lawrence townships. The estimated impact over the next two years of this partnership includes serving 20,000 individual youth as Nine13sports works to not only create a more fit and healthy generation of youth, but to build self-esteem, confidence, and an understanding of teamwork.
Nine 13 promotes health, wellness and exercise for local youth between the ages of 5 and 18 through the Kids Riding Bikes program, which it launched in 2012 in central Indiana schools and community organizations. The Kids Riding Bikes program integrates the traditional bicycle with technology and video enhancement to simulate a real-time cycling experience in a safe environment.
More than 70 percent of Nine 13’s student participants are eligible for federally subsidized free or reduced lunch programs, and many of the youth have never had the opportunity to be on a bicycle. Tom Hanley, Nine 13’s chief executive officer, calls bicycles the “great equalizer” that can put youth of all shapes, sizes and backgrounds on relatively even ground. In addition to improving participants’ health and fitness, the program is designed to promote community, teamwork and mutual respect.
“We could not be more excited for what this grant will mean for Nine13sports and the kids we are privileged to serve daily,” Hanley said. “It’s no secret we have a long waiting list of schools hoping to receive Nine13sports programming, and this will help us continue to grow and meet that demand. We are excited to utilize the opportunity this significant grant presents as a catalyst to expand in central Indiana, and to further engage the philanthropic community, as well as the corporate community, as we strive to get more Kids Riding Bikes.”
About Nine13sports: Nine13sports® is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that promotes health, wellness, and exercise for local youth between the ages of 5 and 18 through our Kids Riding Bikes® programs. We have created a unique initiative in which we have integrated the traditional bicycle with technology to provide a turnkey product for youth programs, schools, and other community organizations. In addition to individual betterment of health and fitness, our programs promote community, teamwork, and mutual respect designed to foster a lasting impact. For additional information please visit www.nine13sports.org or contact info@nine13sports.org.
Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based, private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by three members of the Lilly family — J.K. Lilly Sr. and sons J.K. Jr. and Eli — through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, the Endowment is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.