Velo Pasadena and Bike for Hope for Armenia

        We have an exciting update to share with you all! Initially, we began the bike collection drive because we could not find any organizations that would sell us bicycles for a cheap price as well as deliver them to the Armenian Orphanage. Our plan was to collect bicycles here in Los Angeles and then use the Focus on Children Now shipping container to send them to Armenia. We found a much easier and efficient solution to our dilemma when we met Vatche Soghomonian, the founder of Bike for Hope for Armenia. He organizes annual bike-a-thons in Armenia to raise money for various community projects like building schools. Through Vatche, we met the owner of Velo Pasadena, Hrach Gevrikyan. After learning about our problem, he offered to sell the 40 bicycles we still needed to donate to the Armenian orphanage at cost. Each brand new bicycle would range from $90-$120. He was the solution to our problem and we are very thankful for his generosity. Now we can deliver all 50 bicycles with the help from Hrach as well as the used bicycles donated by generous and kind donors through our bike collection drive. That means we have accomplished our goal thanks to many individuals who wanted to help the lives of orphans and give them a chance at a better future through the power of bicycles.

If you are interested in learning more about Bikes for Hope for Armenia and donating to this great cause please visit: http://www.bikeforhopeforarmenia.org/

If you live in the Los Angeles area, we definitely recommend checking out Velo Pasadena for their great products and bicycles: http://www.velopasadena.com/

If you are interested in joining the Bike for Hope for Armenia Bike-a-thon 2014 please read the
document above. For more information please email us at Bikes4orphanages@gmail.com

Students at Sumner Elementary School helping out Bikes 4 Oprhans

       A couple weeks ago, the librarian, Marleene Bazela, of Sumner Elementary School read our article on the LA Times. After reading about our story, she was motivated to help our cause. I was honored yesterday to speak in front of the students ranging from Kindergarten to Sixth Grade. I was very surprised how they attentively listened, asked great questions and replied correctly to every one of my trivia questions. We are also humbled that Bikes 4 Orphans was chosen for their annual fundraiser. Thank you Sumner Elementary School for your generosity!

Sumner Elementary School website: http://sumner.cusd.claremont.edu/