"My time volunteering with this fantastic nonprofit was an experience filled with joy and fulfillment. Witnessing the joy and pride on a 16-year-old boy’s face as he mastered riding a bike was unforgettable! The commitment of his mother, who traveled three hours, to stay in a hotel just to make this possible is a testament to the profound impact this organization has on families. This group doesn’t just offer services, it teaches important life skills and creates lasting memories and heartfelt bonds."
~ LENDonate Lender & iCan Shine Volunteer
iCan Shine is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing recreational opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Since their establishment in 2007, they’ve successfully taught approximately 30,000 individuals with disabilities how to ride conventional two-wheel bicycles through their iCan Bike program.
Recently, they have expanded their offerings to include swim and dance programs, both of which have experienced a steady increase in demand and have complemented their flagship bike program effectively.
iCan Shine is committed to offering a variety of programs to enrich and impact the lives of people with disabilities. By creating an environment where each person is empowered to maximize their individual abilities, everyone can shine!
Their iCan Bike program is for children and young adults with disabilities ages eight and up with the goal of learning to ride a conventional two-wheel bicycle. They utilize adapted custom-made bike equipment designed to gradually teach balancing, pedaling and steering.
The vast majority of people with disabilities never experience the thrill of independently riding a two-wheel bicycle during their lifetime. For example, recent research shows that over 80% of people with Autism and 90% of people with Down syndrome never learn to ride a two-wheel bicycle. Defying these odds is why they exist!
The proceeds from this loan allows iCan Shine to purchase and adapt ~15 fleets of bike equipment for use at their bike camps.
This loan will be repaid by redirecting the $175,000 annual lease payments towards debt service after purchasing their own bicycle equipment.
Securing this loan is crucial due to the urgent need to replace their outdated 20+ year-old bicycle equipment. They plan to make significant improvements and enhancements to the iCan Bike program with better designed and technologically advanced equipment.
Their iCan Bike program works!
Each year they successfully teach approximately 3,000 children and young adults with disabilities how to ride a bike. Their five-day programs have an impressive success rate, with around 80% of participants achieving independent bike riding by the end of the program.
All riders progress and gain skills during the week with benefits including:
