The Bicycle Coalition (that's us!) Wins a 21st Century Solutions Grant

On a snow day it's hard to focus on anything indoors or remotely abstract, but we're pulling ourselves away from sleds and snow goons to share some very exciting news:

The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia is the recipient of a $50,000 21st Century Solutions grant from NBCUniversal Foundation. In its second year, the 21st Century Solutions program "supports initiatives designed to address emerging and ongoing community challenges in new and creative ways." The foundation awarded $100,000 to three Philadelphia non-profits; The Food Trust and The Trust for Public Land each received $25,000 grants.

This grant supports our Walking School Bus program. A little background: our Safe Routes Philly program trains health and physical education teachers in Philadelphia public schools to teach bicycle and pedestrian safety lessons. Since 2010, these lessons have been taught in 133 schools reaching over 60,000 students. With the recent school closures, thousands of students are travelling farther than ever to get to school, crossing unfamiliar and often busy roads. Our Walking School Bus Program organizes teachers and parents into "walking school buses" or parent-led groups that walk students to and from school. This makes the trip to school safer, and builds physical activity into the children's daily lives.

An excerpt from the NBCUniversal Foundation's press release:

PHILADELPHIA, PA – (December 10, 2013) – NBC10 Philadelphia, in partnership with The NBCUniversal Foundation, today announced $100,000 in grants for three local non-profit organizations. In its second year, the 21st Century Solutions grant program recognizes and supports innovative, high-impact initiatives in the areas of Civic Engagement, Education, Environment, Jobs and Economic Empowerment, Media Arts and Technology.

21st Century Solutions awards $1.2 million nationwide in the 10 markets served by the NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations. One winning organization and two runners-up are selected in each city. NBC10 promoted the initiative locally and created a panel to review and select the final grant recipients. This year’s recipients include The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, which will receive $50,000, and runners-up The Food Trust and The Trust for Public Land, which will receive $25,000 each.

“This year’s recipients are doing truly innovative work and supporting area neighborhoods in creative ways,” said Eric Lerner, President and General Manager of NBC10 Philadelphia. “NBC10 is proud to be able to support these organizations and their ongoing efforts to positively impact our community.”

We are very grateful to the NBCUniversal Foundation and NBC10 Philadelphia for valuing and recognizing our work. We are also honored to be listed along with two extremely notable and impressive Philly nonprofits, The Food Trust* and The Trust for Public Land. If you would like to learn more about our Safe Routes Philly program, visit its website. If you are interested in helping to organize a walking school bus at your school, contact Megan Rosenbach.

*If we might be a itsy bitsy teenie weenie bit petty for a second, it feels good to top The Food Trust after we finished second to them in the voting for Philebrity's Non-Profit of the Year in 2011.** As they say, revenge is a dish best served with grant applications.

**We're totally over it, though. It's in the past. Water under the bridge.***

***No, we're not.