MPI Toronto Transforms Bikes Into Opportunity
Nikki Sayers, CMP, Blackbox Communications Inc.
The 2011-2012 ECOS Committee event, "MPI Build a Bike Day," took us to the Toronto Kiwanis Boys & Girls Club (101 Spruce Street), where we helped provide five boys and five girls from Regent Park with very empowering gifts of dignity, autonomy, and the opportunity to build confidence. On June 20th, a group of 27, made up of MPI Toronto members and their families, came together and built bikes for 10 very deserving children. The morning was full of the usual upbeat atmosphere that surrounds an MPI event. We enjoyed seeing another side of our colleagues and quickly realized who in the group knew how to use a wrench!
Of course, the children’s faces were beaming when they were presented with their bikes. However, we could not have anticipated the looks of heartfelt gratitude that appeared on their parents' faces! What was accomplished would not have been possible without the private donations of corporate sponsors and generosity of the following; Toronto Kiwanis Boys & Girls Club, AVW-TELAV Audio Visual Solutions, Elephant Entertainment and D.E.Solutions. Also, a huge thank you to our bike kit and helmet sponsors: Duff Shaw, Elastic Communications & Events Inc, Fletcher Wright Associates Inc, International Centre, MPI Toronto Chapter Board of Directors and Ruby Sky Event Planning Inc. Click here to see the video from our special day