In 2022 the Florida Freewheelers donated $25,000 to various cycling-related causes.
A donation of $3420 was made to the Florida Bicycle Association, as well as $3000 in donations to the League of American Bicyclists to continue their work advocating for cyclists at both the state and federal level. The club also donated $1,000 to support the America Bicycling Education Association in their support of bicycling advocacy and education efforts like CyclingSavvy.
A donation $1,500 each was made to the St. Johns River-to-Sea Loop Alliance and the SORBA Orlando organizations that promote cycling and trail development in the Central Florida area. A donation of $1,000 was made to Bike Walk Central Florida in support their efforts to promote cycling and their Bike 5 event.
The club donated over hundreds of children’s helmets to Suwannee and Madison counties (where the Florida Bicycle Safari is held. The club also donated helmets to the Down Syndrome Foundation of Central Florida in support their iCanBike event.
The Freewheelers also sponsored teams for the Champions Ride for Charities which benefits The Share Center and The Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, as well as the CF Cycle for Life which benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The club also donated to the New Hope for Kids Charity in support of their Christmas Kids Ride.
The club donated about new 40 bicycles to needy school children in Seminole during the Christmas holidays.
In addition to making these charitable donations, our club members received many various benefits as well. All new members received a free one-year members to the Florida Bicycle Association. All interested members received free one-memberships to the League of American Bicyclists and the St. Johns River-to-Sea Loop Alliance organizations. And finally, members were able to participate in the Champions Ride for Charities, Cystic Fibrosis Cycle for Life and New Hope for Kids Christmas Ride for free. Add up all these benefits, and it far exceeds the annual FFW membership fee!
If you know of a worthy cycling-related cause that might benefit from a donation from our club, please contact the club’s Charitable Causes Committee. Our guiding principles used in the selection are (1) cycling relevant, (2) local benefit, (3) promotes the club, (4) member benefit, and (5) supports our sponsors.