The Manny Adler and Jon Miller Rotary Bikes for Kids event brought bicycles, helmets, and safety education to local children in the Chula Vista Elementary School District during a community event held on May 30.
The Rotary Club of Chula Vista hosted the event, providing 150 bicycles and helmets to students in grades K–6. Families were selected through an application process conducted through elementary schools in the district, with priority given to those who may not otherwise be able to afford a bike.
Organizers said the event drew more than 180 participants, including volunteers and community members who helped with preparation and supported the distribution throughout the day.
“It was a wonderful event,” organizers said. “Many happy and excited faces.”
For some of the children, this was their first bike.
“We appreciate working with community organizations that want to give back and create positive change.”
The event ran from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Child Development Associates headquarters, where families also had access to community resources, including information about subsidized child care services and other support offerings.
A broad network of community partners supported the effort, including the Rotary Club of Chula Vista, Altrusa Chula Vista, Kiwanis Club of Bonita, Safe Kids San Diego, Scripps Health, Ride Krew, The Baldwin Company, Chick-fil-A, South Bay Family YMCA, the County of San Diego, and the Chula Vista Elementary School District. Former County Supervisor Greg Cox has also been a long-term supporter of the program.
Organizers said children experienced clear excitement during the distribution, with many receiving their first bicycle along with a properly fitted helmet. Families also had opportunities to access free resources and books during the event.
Jon Miller, who helped first conceive the program in 1979, also attended this year’s distribution, which organizers said added to the significance of the day.
The program focuses not only on bike distribution but also on safety education. Each child received a helmet, along with hands-on instruction designed to reinforce safe riding habits and promote injury prevention and safe outdoor play.
“This event carries forward a tradition of neighbors helping neighbors by giving children the chance to be active, play safely outside, and experience the joy that comes with receiving a bike of their own, while also surrounding families with support from the broader community,” said Rick Richardson, Rotary Club member and CDA president and CEO.
The bicycle program dates back to 1979, when it was first conceived by Rotarians Manny Adler and Jon Miller in partnership with the Salvation Army. It later expanded through additional collaboration, including a 2009 Rotary and Kiwanis joint bike giveaway. Today, the effort continues through the Rotary Club of Chula Vista, Bonita Kiwanis, and the Chula Vista Elementary School District.
