Nonprofit donates bicycles to Navajos

An article about "the philanthropic organization 88bikes, which gives bicycles to children in difficult circumstances":

Seattle man bringing bicycles to Navajo Nation

By Alysa LandryThis year, it is focusing on small villages around the globe. Included in its 2011 tour is the tiny town of Montezuma Creek, Utah, where 50 Navajo and Ute students attending Whitehorse High School will receive bicycles next week.

"We've been wanting to do a domestic project for a long time," Austin said. "Oftentimes the Indian reservations are overlooked. In terms of poverty, there's really nothing like it in the U.S. It's important to remember that there are pockets of poverty—and pockets of resilience—in our backyards."

Representatives from the Seattle-based nonprofit will present the bicycles in person and open a sustainable bicycle shop during the same visit.

"This is a first bike for a lot of these kids," Whitehorse High School Principal John Fahey said. "We're so excited about this. These guys give bikes out around the world, and they picked us."

The school, which has an enrollment of 280 students in grades 7 through 12, serves several villages in the southwest corner of Utah.

The donation means instant mobility for many teens, Fahey said. Montezuma Creek is an isolated community with no public transportation.

"Because of the rural nature of where we're at, this will enable them to ride their bikes to school, to ride their bikes to their friends' houses," he said of the students. "Friends are five or 10 miles away, and that's hard to walk to."Comment:  For more on Indians and philanthropy, see Adam Beach Helps Flood Victims and Super Dunker Kenny Dobbs.

Below:  "The philanthropic organization 88bikes hand-delivers bicycles to children in Cambodia during an annual Moment of Happy event. The organization provides bicycles to children in difficult economic circumstances, believing that bicycles can produce a happiness basic humanitarian efforts cannot."