2011 Holiday Event

The Konica Minolta Colorful Tomorrow Foundation will partner with Chicago-based JoRide Bicycles this Holiday Season to donate 60 pedal-less bicycles to young riders throughout the Chicago area. As part of The CTF's mission to transform lives, enable communities and inspire ideas for the next generation to shape a more colorful tomorrow, the modified JoRide bicycles will be given to organizations, schools and individual recipient families at a Holiday Brunch on December 11, 2011 at the Keshet International Center in Northbrook, Ill.

JoRide Bicycles was created for individuals with special need, regardless of age or physical limitation, to create the ability, freedom, independence, comfort, and stability to learn how to ride a bicycle. Founded as a result of the owner's commitment to building a bicycle that would allow his autistic son to enjoy the pastime without difficulty, JoRide Bicycles has provided thousands of pedal-less bicycles to autistic and other special needs riders.

Covering the full cost of all the bicycles and the family-oriented event, The CTF has invited a number of local organizations and schools to receive bicycles including Autism Speaks, Have Dreams, The Center for Enriched Living, and Northern Suburban Special Education District (NSSED). The remaining bicycles will be distributed to individual families who have been identified through these organizations and will also be in attendance.

"The Autism Society of Illinois is excited to be working with JoRide Bicycles and Steve Cohen. Steve and Konica Minolta are generously donating bikes to children who don't know how to ride a bike or can't ride a bike due to their disability. Our families are so excited, because for the first time their child will be able to ride bike in the community. ASI can not express the enough thanks for this wonderful opportunity this is for our families," said Mary Kay Betz, Executive Director, The Autism Society of Illinois.