FEDERAL WAY, WA (May 15, 2015) — Thanks to the generosity of Boeing, hundreds of children in Zambia and other countries — including the United States — will have bicycles that will enable them to travel to school more quickly and safely, and allow people of all ages more range and opportunities in their communities.
Boeing is in the process of donating nearly 1,000 bicycles from its facility in Everett, Washington, to World Vision as the site transitions to a new transportation alternative in that industrial work setting. In turn, World Vision will distribute the bicycles — all in excellent working order — via our international and domestic programs. It is the largest donation of bicycles in World Vision’s 65-year history.
Bicycles provide safe, speedy transportation for children in the developing world and are especially helpful in ensuring that children safely travel to and from school.
A total of 700 of the bicycles will be distributed in international communities, while the others will reach people in the Pacific Northwest.
“We know that in many parts of the world children, especially girls, drop out of school because of a lack of means to safely travel to and from school,” said Jennifer Hawley, senior director for corporate engagement at World Vision. “We are grateful for Boeing’s generosity, which has the potential to be transformative in the lives of the children we serve.”
The first shipment of bicycles recently departed World Vision’s distribution center in Fife, Washington, en route to Zambia.
“We are very pleased that the bicycles from our Everett facility will have such a positive impact on so many lives,” said Liz Warman, director of Boeing Global Corporate Citizenship, Northwest region. “Whether it’s through our Humanitarian Delivery Flight program or other avenues like this, we have a long history of working in collaboration with our partners to help get needed resources to those in the world who need them the most.”
World Vision will distribute additional bicycles to other countries, and is working with its partners in the Pacific Northwest to distribute bicycles to local children in need.
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About Boeing:
Boeing is the world’s largest aerospace company and top U.S. exporter, supporting airlines and U.S. and allied government customers in 150 countries. More than 160,000 employees at Boeing design, develop and build the world’s leading commercial and military aerospace products, including the 787 Dreamliner, the V-22 Osprey; F/A-18 Super Hornet and the CST-100 Commercial Space Transportation System. In 2014 Boeing was ranked #1 Innovator in Aerospace for the eighth consecutive year by the Patent Board and holds more than 14,000 active patents globally.
For more information about Boeing’s community involvement in Washington state, please visit the Boeing in Washington website at www.boeing.com/washington.
About World Vision:
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization conducting relief, development, and advocacy activities in its work with children, families, and their communities in nearly 100 countries to help them reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. For more information, please visit www.WorldVision.org/media-center/ or on Twitter @WorldVisionUSA.
Highlights
- Bicycles provide safe, speedy transportation for children in the developing world.
- A total of 700 of the bicycles will be distributed in international communities, while the others will reach people in the Pacific Northwest.