Local Business and Community Assemble Bikes to Give to 600 New Mexico’s Underprivileged Children
(Albuquerque, NM – March 12, 2012) – More than six hundred children will receive new bicycles at the Beds, Bikes, and Tikes community event. Mattress Firm owners, Alberto Estrada and Dan Longoria, are donating 600+ bikes and helmets, to be given to kids through various charitable organizations in New Mexico.
Alberto Estrada, President, of the Mattress Firm said, “The focus of this community event is to bring smiles to underprivileged children and awareness to the great charities that work so hard in our community everyday. Some of our at-risk children have never had an opportunity to ride a bike much less own one.”
The Beds, Bikes and Tikes event will take place on Saturday, April 21st at UNM’s PIT parking lot beginning at 8 a.m. Community leaders will be on site to educate and train children about bicycle safety. The event will include a bicycle safety course for children to ride their bikes, character appearances, as well as food, refreshments, entertainment, and fun.
April 21st Bed, Bike & Tikes Event Location
Mattress Firm is working with various charitable organizations to distribute bicycles to underprivileged children including: the local chapters of Big Brothers & Sisters, the Boys & Girls Club, the YMCA, the Heart Gallery of New Mexico, All Faiths Receiving Home, PB&J Family Services, New Vistas, El Ranchito De Los Niños, La Familia, Inc., and Ronald McDonald House Charities of New Mexico.
“We are excited to provide age appropriate bicycles to children where we can. We are planning to have all sizes available for children from tricycles to full-sized bicycles,” said Alan Cronick, general manager of the Mattress Firm.
With help from the community, the Mattress Firm is hopeful to reach a lofty goal of assembling more than 600 bikes before they are distributed on April 21st. The Bike Building Assembly Days will be held from 8 am to 2 pm on April 7th and 14th at Mattress Firm’s Distribution Center located at 4378 Alexander Blvd. Free food and drinks will be provided to volunteers.
Estrada said, “We invite the public to help us put together bikes during our two assembly days. This event is one way we can give back to a community that has been so good to us. Already many businesses, police and fire departments as well as our media partners are stepping forward to help.”
Partners in the Beds, Bikes and Tikes event include Sealy, Simmons, Tempur-Pedic, Protect-a-bed, Mattress Firm Inc., El Mezquite, Pepsi Co., Zea’s Rotisserie and Grill, the Albuquerque Café, and the Home Depot. Title Media partners include KOB TV, Comcast, Clear Channel Outdoor and Univision.
“There are some fun surprises planned for volunteers during the Bike Building Assembly Days. We want this to be a team building activity and are hoping to inspire some friendly competition while doing something great for underprivileged children,” said Estrada.
D&A Mattress (dba Mattress Firm) is locally owned and operated. Franchise owners Alberto Estrada and Dan Longoria own 25 Mattress Firm locations in New Mexico and El Paso, TX. Estrada and Longoria started D&A Mattress (dba Mattress Firm) franchise more than 14 years ago. The Mattress Firm company is based out of Houston, TX., and operates 800 stores nationwide.
To volunteer and help during the Bike Assembly Days contact Jeff Finkel, event coordinator at (505) 379-6206 or bikes@dnamattress.com.
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