Image from the Bobby Labonte Foundation.
The Bobby Labonte Foundation, founded by NASCAR champion and Hall of Fame race car driver Bobby Labonte, in partnership with Herbalife Nutrition, as part of the Foundation’s annual philanthropic efforts Thursday at the YWCA in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. made and donated 60 children’s bicycles to Effort. Surprise gifts for children enrolled in the YWCA’s Best Choice Learning Center also included helmet and bicycle safety lessons provided by Brenner Children’s Hospital.
The Bobby Labonte Foundation and Herbalife also surprised center representatives with two oversized checks for $10,000 each. Best Choice Learning Center focuses on education and income equity, offering nutrition education, healthy snacks and hot meals, as well as K-8 academic advancement and need-based scholarships .
“My Foundation works with local communities and community organizations to empower parents, families and children to build a strong foundation for their future. Encouragement is one way to do that,” says Bobby Labonte. “We are extremely grateful to partners like Herbalife for enabling our efforts. They also support the Best Choice Learning Center, an invaluable resource for so many families in our community. I was so excited to participate in.”
The bikes were assembled the day before by employees at Herbalife’s Winston-Salem facility under the supervision of Paul’s Cycling and Fitness bike mechanics.
“Herbalife, a company focused on nutrition, health and wellness, is thrilled to be a part of building and gifting bikes. It has been invaluable to our team,” said Gene Corbett, Vice President of Human Resources, Herbalife Nutrition. “We value our long-term partnership with Best Choice Learning Center and look forward to continuing to support their mission to educate and advocate for children in need at Winston-Salem. We would also like to thank the Bobby Labonte Foundation for their partnership, as we have seen throughout this event we have been able to make a huge impact both on the center itself and on the children they serve.
Before the kids received their bikes, Labonte and his wife Christine, a former national cyclist champion, encouraged their kids to stay active and healthy and always wear a helmet when riding. Hale Riveckles, Child Injury Prevention Coordinator at Brenner Children’s Hospital and Safe Her Kids Her Northwest Her Piedmont Coordinator, teaches children how to ride their bikes safely before they put on their new helmets. I taught to
“Today is a great day for Best Choice Learning Center,” said Marilyn Odom, Vice President of Youth Services for the YWCA in Winston-Salem. “We are grateful for the donation of bicycles and helmets from the Bobby Labonte Foundation and Herbalife, as well as $20,000 in monetary donations. And biking helps kids stay active.We also learned the importance of safety on our bikes, and I’m happy with all that.”
Hundreds of Triad children have received bikes from the Bobby Labonte Foundation over the years. For more information about the Bobby Labonte Foundation, visit bobbylabontefoundation.org.
— Bobby Labonte Foundation —
