PRESS RELEASE: Boeing’s Employees Community Fund to replace stolen Major Taylor Project bikes through emergency response grant

The $20,000 grant will replace 31 bikes stolen from a Tacoma school last week

SEATTLE, Wash. Sept. 18, 2017 – The Employees Community Fund of Boeing Puget Sound, known as ECF, is coming through in a big way for Cascade Bicycle Club’s Major Taylor Project. An ECF emergency response grant of $20,000 was awarded to Cascade today to replace 31 bikes stolen last Saturday, Sept. 9 from a storage container at iDEA High School in Tacoma, Wash.

The stolen bikes belonged to Cascade’s Major Taylor Project (MTP), an after-school youth development program that empowers teens from diverse communities through bicycling. In MTP after-school clubs, students establish healthy habits, build relationships, gain confidence and discover their ability to affect positive change. The program serves more than 500 students annually throughout south King County and Tacoma.

“We’re pleased Boeing employees were able to jump in and fix this terrible wrong,” said Bob Malone, Boeing Employees Community Fund Trustee. “We look forward to seeing these kids get back on their new bikes soon.”

The ECF is an employee-owned and managed charitable giving program. Boeing ECF grants enable Health & Human Service agencies to purchase much-needed equipment, renovate their facilities and build new construction that directly benefit their clients.

The Boeing employees’ swift response will allow Cascade to replace the stolen bikes during a time that is important to the program’s success. Major Taylor Project Manager Rich Brown explained that “the beginning of the school year is such an important time for building community and setting the tone. We’re elated with the news of this special grant funding from Boeing.”

In addition to the grant from Boeing employees, the incident has been met with an outpouring of support from the local community. “It shows how much everyone wants these kids to succeed,” said Brown. “The Major Taylor Project is ready to roll forward again.”

To learn more about the Major Taylor Project, visit cascade.org/mtp.

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About Cascade Bicycle Club
Cascade Bicycle Club, the nation’s largest statewide bicycle organization, is powered by over 17,000 members and serves bike riders of all ages and abilities throughout the Puget Sound region and across Washington state. With a mission to improve lives through bicycling, we deliver community and school-based education programs, grassroots organizing workshops, free group rides, world-class events and more. Our signature programs include events like the STP and RSVP; advocacy work like Connect Puget Sound; and education programs like Let’s Go, the Major Taylor Project and more. Learn more at cascade.org.

Media contacts
Diana Bryant
Cascade Bicycle Club
Content Marketing Manager
206.939.4314 (office)
dianab@cascade.org

Paul R. Bergman
Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Communications & Media Relations
206.724.7292 (mobile)
Paul.R.Bergman2@boeing.com