District Council 83’s “My Bike” trust fund continues to grow

Variety: The Children’s Charity held a “My Bike” presentation at Capital Area Intermediate Unit in Central Pennsylvania, where seven children received their new adaptive bikes, including a child of an AFSCME member.

At the event, Anastasia DiBartolomeo and Brian Waple presented a $2,000 check on behalf of AFSCME Local 1981 (Inspectors Non-Professional – District 12) toward District Council 83’s trust fund for the “My Bike” program, brining the trust fund to $22,000. (In the photo left to right: District Council 89 Director Steve Mullen, Variety CEO Charlie LaVallee, District Council 83 Director Mickey Sgro, Local 1981 member Anastasia DiBartolomeo, PA AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale and Local 1981 member Brian Waple).

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“We started the trust fund with a $100 donation. Because of a lot of our councils getting involved in this, especially District Council 83 and its locals, we have been able to raise it up to $22,000,” District Council 83 Director Mickey Sgro said.

Ben Peterson of AFSCME Local 3334 (Central Dauphin School District) saw his daughter Milanny receive an adaptive bike, and watched the smile grow bigger on her face.

“It’s going to give her more freedom to run around. She is a spitfire so this is going to keep her contained on the bike and give her an outlet for her energy,” Peterson said.

AFSCME has worked very closely with Variety over the last couple years and has played a huge role in the expansion of the “My Bike” program.

“Organized labor, the AFL-CIO and in-particular AFSCME, has been a real catalyst for identifying kids, raising funds and creating greater awareness about the program,” Variety CEO Charlie LaVallee said.

Since its inception, “My Bike” has expanded to 40 Pennsylvania counties and 10 West Virginia counties, after starting with just 10 counties in Western Pennsylvania.

For more information on this program, and how you or someone you know can receive an adaptive bike, check out www.varietypittsburgh.org.