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Local Children Receive Bikes from Cal Poly Pomona

October 05, 2022 |

President Coley and her cabinet pose for a photo with families that received the bike.

U.S. President John F. Kennedy once said, "nothing compares to the simple pleasure of riding a bike." Cal Poly Pomona helped make this pleasure a reality for five local families at the Pomona CommUNITY Pull Up.

The special event took place on Sept. 6 at Cal Poly Pomona's Office of Outreach, Recruitment, & Educational Partnerships booth, where President Soraya M. Coley and members of the university's senior leadership team gifted the bikes to five children.

"It's so special to see the community come together and share its resources in support of one another," said Maricela Gonzalez, who smiled as her 10-year-old daughter, Yasaira, selected her bike. "It means a lot to us that Cal Poly Pomona is thinking about the children."

The bikes were assembled with care during the President's Cabinet planning retreat in June.

The cabinet then teamed up with City Council Member Victor Preciado to identify five families in need and organize their meeting at the CommUNITY Pull Up - a monthly mobile resource fair envisioned by Preciado and Project Hope CA to bring services and resources to Pomona's underserved communities.

"Simply put, the inspiration for the Community Pull Up came from the community, and how much events of similar kinds in the past had made a difference," said Preciado.

Since its inception last year, the fair has been hosted in communities throughout Pomona on the first Tuesday of each month. CPP's Office of Outreach, Recruitment, & Educational Partnerships began participating over the summer.

"The Pomona CommUNITY Pull Up events play a critical role in providing access to necessary resources for our Pomona community, and I'm so pleased that Cal Poly Pomona is a part of this important work," said Coley.

Cal Poly Pomona's involvement makes a big difference, Preciado said.

"CPP being at the table is huge! Having one of the top colleges in the U.S. say that they care about their local impact is priceless," he said. "I thank President Coley and the university for having that mindset. The university's support of our blue-collar and high-need communities is life-changing."

  • Bike Giveaway Hidalgo3 Bike Giveaway Hidalgo3-Destiny Hidalgo, age 7, tries out her new bike that was put together by Cal Poly Pomona administrators as a team building exercise. The bikes were donated to youngsters in Pomona at the Pomona CommUnity Pull Up at Sacred Heart Church September 6, 2022.
  • Bike Giveaway Hidalgo4 Bike Giveaway Hidalgo4-Cal Poly Pomona President Soraya Coley helps Destiny Hidalgo, age 7, put on her bike helmet as she gets ready to try out her new bike that was put together by Cal Poly Pomona administrators as a team building exercise. The bikes were donated to youngsters in Pomona at the Pomona CommUnity Pull Up at Sacred Heart Church September 6, 2022.
  • Bike Giveaway Hidalgo6 Bike Giveaway Hidalgo6-Cal Poly Pomona President Soraya Coley with Destiny Hidalgo, age 7, and City of Pomona Councilmember Victor Preciado at the Pomona CommUnity Pull Up at Sacred Heart Church September 6, 2022.
  • Bike Giveaway Hidalgo Bike Giveaway Hidalgo-Destiny Hidalgo, age 7, tries out her new bike that was put together by Cal Poly Pomona administrators as a team building exercise. The bikes were donated to youngsters in Pomona at the Pomona CommUnity Pull Up at Sacred Heart Church September 6, 2022.