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Malik Malone
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Class of 2015
  • Powell, OH

Malik Malone refurbishes bikes to give to Dayton schoolchildren

2014 Apr 15

About 30 Dayton elementary school students received free bikes at a bike rodeo April 5 thanks to Malik Malone and about a dozen other University of Dayton students.

Malik was a volunteer participant of Wheels for Kids, which provides refurbished bicycles, helmets, locks, T-shirts and lessons on bike maintenance and safety to local children.

This was the 13th year of the Wheels for Kids project, which began as a service-learning component of the first-year engineering programs. It is now a student-driven, all-volunteer service initiative with support from the University of Dayton's School of Engineering and the Fitz Center for Leadership in Community.

The student volunteers accept used bikes throughout the year from local residents and area police departments and spend several Saturdays refurbishing them for their new owners. The helmets this year were donated by Dayton Children's Hospital and financial support was given by the Fitz Center and the University of Dayton's Student Government Association (SGA).

In the program's first seven years, the bike giveaway and rally took place on campus, but now it takes place on site or near one of Dayton's five neighborhood school centers, which receive support from the Fitz Center. This year's bike rodeo was held at Kiser PK-8 School in Old North Dayton.

"Wheels For Kids is a group of students from the University of Dayton who are passionate about both their classes and applying what they've learned to helping others in the community," said Emily Tomon, student president of Wheels for Kids. "This program allows the students to interact with local children and their families making positive memories while helping the children learn about being active, safe and having fun outside with their bikes."