Category Archives: bicycles
Guatemala
Costa Rica
The Borough of High Bridge Green Award, 1/22/15
David Schweidenback is hereby the recipient of the High Bridge Environmental Commission’s eighth annual Borough of High Bridge Green Award for 2014 in recognition of his continuing dedication to promoting environmental preservation.
David Schweidenback was “Caught Being Green” by fellow residents who nominated him for this award for his ongoing environmental actions. David’s Pedals for Progress organization founded in 1991 rescues bicycles destined for overburdened US landfills and ships them to developing countries where they are sorely needed and highly valued. P4P Bikes are put to work not only is basic transportation, but are used as a supplement to school and community programs.
The Environmental Commission recognizes that David has had the distinguished honor of being twice invited delegate to the International Convention of Environmental Laureates in 2012 and 2013.
The Mayor and Council of the Borough of High Bridge, County of Hunterdon and and the State of New Jersey sincerely appreciate his commitment to reducing the amount of trash we generate and creating an awareness for environmentally sound transportation.
Mark Desire, Mayor
Happy 2015 from FIDESMA – Guatemala
Hola David, Muchos Saludos, Esperamos se encuentre bién, con bendición en su casa. Agradecemos a Usted y su asociación, todo el apoyo que nos da, es un proyecto que beneficia a muchos hogares y familias, hace más feliz la vida de muchos niños, jovenes y personas que jamás pensaban que podían tener una bicicleta para su ayuda personal y laboral. Adjuntamos una sencilla tarjeta, de todo corazon, deseamos que lo usted esté haciendo sea de bendición para todos los que le rodean.
Hasta pronto,
Margarita Caté y compañeros
FIDESMA Guatemala
Dear David, Greetings from FIDESMA. We hope that this letter finds you well and that all is well with your family. We would like to thank you and your organization for all of the support that you give us, for all of the families that have benefitted from P4P and the children and young people that have improved their situation in life with a bicycle. We have created this simple card with all of our hearts and sincerely feel that all of your work is a blessing to everyone that comes in contact with Pedals for Progress.
Until we speak again,
Maragarita Caté and Associates
FIDESMA Guatemela
In Honor of Sean Tyrrell
By Fran Tyrrell
“On October 18th, 2014, a memorial bike ride in honor of my husband, Shawn Tyrrell, was held in Gwinnet County, Georgia, by members of his bike club, the Gwinnett Touring Club (GTC). Shawn was an active member of the club, and toured with them both in Georgia and in Europe. Shawn passed away from a heart attack in 2013. Members of his club wanted to honor him by holding a group ride, and I was asked to pick a charity. I had heard of Pedals for Progress from my sister, who lives in West Orange, New Jersey, and the great work that this organization provides. Since Pedals for Progress is a group that combines our love of cycling with a global commitment to sustainable programs in developing countries, it was the perfect charity to choose. We had a beautiful day for the ride, and were provided with support along the route by club members, and even a police escort! We look forward to holding this event annually in the future.”
For the Love of Bicycles
Even from the earliest days 25 years ago, not too long after we began to deliver bicycles, some young person who wants to race is hanging about, often willing to work for free just to be around bicycles. At first I really discouraged racing clubs because our real goal was income generation, workers getting to work. The love of bicycles and the love of racing have always won out. The people who work in the bike shop and the people who hang around there are always great bicycle enthusiasts.
Juan Carlos Jimenez is such a young man. 18 years old, he works in a bicycle parts shop in Rivas, Nicaragua. In his spare time he is preparing for upcoming competitions racing up and down the steep jagged foothills of western Nicaragua. Thanks to the donation of this beautiful carbon-fiber Motobecane bicycle to Pedals for Progress, Juan Carlos has an exceptionally good bike to race.
I have often been asked, Is this bike too good? No bicycle is too good. There is a purpose for every bicycle. We seek to ship the highest quality bikes possible and when we can obtain such a beautiful racing bike, there is a great demand for that bicycle overseas.
Ghana Photos – 2013
Green Mountain RPCVs Collect 3,000th Bicycle
The Green Mountain Returned Peace Corps Volunteers held their 16th annual used bike and sewing machine collection for Pedals for Progress on Saturday, September 27, 2014, in Essex Junction, Vermont. During the 4 hour event, community members donated 169 bikes and 29 sewing machines.
A highlight of the day was the donation of the 3,000th bike the group has collected – a bright red Schwinn. The surprised donor was greeted by a cheering group of volunteers, and was presented with a Pedals for Progress ceramic mug.
Since their first collection in 1999, the group has shipped 3,143 bikes and 78 sewing machines to Pedals for Progress from northern Vermont. FedEx has donated the shipping of all of these bikes from Vermont to New Jersey and for the past few years they’ve had exuberant help on collection day from teenage members of Ripple, a local ecumenical youth group.
High Bridge man makes a difference with bicycles
High Bridge man makes a difference with bicycles
Pedals for Progress provides bicycles and sewing machines to developing countries to put people to work.
Check out this story on mycentraljersey.com: http://mycj.co/1utyV5z