250 Underprivileged Kids Get New Bikes From Phoenix Charity

The McKenna Youth Foundation of Phoenix, Ariz., will hold its annual bike give away Dec. 8. The underprivileged children will not only get new bikes, their families will receive food baskets and clothing for the holidays.

Phoenix, Ariz. (PRWEB) December 8, 2007 -- Despite the economic downturn this holiday season, the McKenna Youth Foundation of Phoenix, Ariz., still plans to give away 250 new bikes to underprivileged children, just as it has the last six years.

The bike giveway is the highlight at the foundation's annual holiday party from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 8. But recipients and their families will go home with more than just a new bike. Eighty families will also receive food boxes and clothes.

Hosted by Aunt Chilada's Squaw Peak restaurant, the children will also be treated to lunch, face painting, caroling, visits with Santa, holiday photos and a prize raffle.

The McKenna Youth Foundation is a non-profit organization founded 20 years ago by Michael Damiani, Terry Dunn and the late Tony Cerkvenik, a former Arizona State University basketball standout, to help disadvantaged children in metropolitan Phoenix. The Foundation provides academic scholarships, sends kids to summer camp and assists children with medical needs. The foundation is administered by Michael and Terri Damiani.

The holiday party is their largest event. With the help of donations from individuals and local corporations each child attending the party receives a new bike.

The children are selected for the donations by local school counselors based on need, integrity and scholarship.

"These counselors have the pleasure of selecting the right child and his or her family to attend the holiday party and receive the donations," said Candice Nagel, owner of Aunt Chilada's.

About 75 volunteers will distribute the bikes and serve lunch. Santa is a local orthopedic surgeon who donates his Saturday because he believes in the work of the foundation.

"Those involved with the foundation ask for no recognition," Nagel said. "They are a bunch of guys who have been doing this for years and years and years. Some are wealthy, others do what they can. It is not about ego it is about love. It is truly a labor of love."

The clothing drive will include not only donated clothing from volunteers, but also new clothing collected by Southwest Gas employees. The clothes are sorted by size and the families select what they need.

Michael Damiani, McKenna Youth Foundation administrator, said there is no greater joy than seeing the looks on the faces of the children when they get their new bike, and most are more excited about the food donations.

"Last year, 10 families from Sacaton arrived by van and truck to the holiday party," he said. "They were so grateful for the donations, that they sent packets of photos of the children at home riding their bikes and the parents cooking their holiday dinner."

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