Press release:
The Specialized Foundation announced the nine schools nationwide that were selected out of a pool of 200 applicants to receive a grant to begin the cycling program, Riding For Focus, starting in Fall 2016. Riding for Focus is the cycling program developed by The Specialized Foundation that integrates cycling into physical education classes as a way to help students in the classroom.
“We’re grateful to the Specialized Foundation for giving Evergreen Community Charter School this opportunity to expand upon our role as innovators in utilizing physical education to help grow healthy bodies and minds among our students,” said Development and Communications Coordinator Jody Flemming. “We also appreciate our local Specialized dealer, Motion Makers, for sponsoring our application and for providing free maintenance for the new fleet of bikes.”
Evergreen Community Charter School is one of nine schools that has received support, training, and equipment with the goal of creating a lasting cycling program in that school for at least two years. Students ride for 30 minutes before school (starting at 7:30 am!) and receive training and education from parent volunteers, local bike advocates and Asheville bicycle industry partners like Cane Creek Cycling and Industry Nine components.
The Specialized Foundation uses cycling as a tool to help kids achieve academic, health, and social success. Riding for Focus is designed to introduce students to cycling’s positive effects on health, wellbeing, and academic performance, with a particular focus on students with learning differences such as ADHD. The curriculum has been built based on research done by a third party research organization that studied the impact of cycling on middle school students.
Mike Sinyard, Specialized Founder and CEO, stated, “At Specialized we are a company built of riders and have each been transformed through cycling in one way or another. The Specialized Foundation and Riding for Focus program is our way to contribute to future generations and do our part to create a healthier world for our children. We believe in the power of the bicycle and its ability to transform lives, we get to start here.”
About The Specialized Foundation:
The Specialized Foundation is the non-profit arm of Specialized Bicycle Components. It was created with the intention of introducing students to cycling’s positive effects on health, wellbeing, and academic performance, with a particular focus on students with learning differences like ADHD.
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