San Francisco, CA—On a team retreat in Lake Tahoe, CA the Academy of Art University softball team got a lot more than they bargained for. Aside from the usual team bonding exercises, the women made a generous donation to a local charity. At the end of their day, the Urban Knights gave away five new bicycles (training wheels included) to five kids at the South Lake Tahoe Family Resource Center.
The Urban Knights found a way to turn their team building activities into the challenging task of building a bike. Headed by Nasi Consulting, the women started with several different activities in which they had to complete correctly and efficiently. Upon completing a task, the Knights then got a piece of a bicycle in which they had to put together and build correctly. Once all the bikes were assembled, the team then drove the few miles to the charity to hand deliver the shiny red bicycles to the kids.
“The girls were overwhelmed with emotion,” exclaimed Head Coach Rachel Sherman. “Once we pulled up and the girls realized the children were there, in person, to receive these gifts; it really set in for them.”
The South Lake Tahoe Family Resource Center provides services which include: parenting education, adult basic education, ESL classes, childcare resources/referrals, counseling, support groups, child abuse neglect/prevention, recreational programs, preschool programs, and youth development activities. The families helped by this charity receive basic assistance meeting basic needs through referrals for housing, transportation, medical/dental services, food, and clothing.
Upon the Urban Knights' arrival to the charity, five pre-selected children awaited the team anxious and ready to ride their new bike. “The experience made me feel good,” said senior Shampayne Clay. “The kids were all happy and couldn’t wait to ride their bikes.”
The bike building exercise not only left the Urban Knights feeling content, but they also learned and grew from it at the same time. In each activity the Knights had to work together in order to complete their assigned task, and only then could they move on to finish building the bicycle. After it was all said and done, the Knights learned, laughed, and were able to help others less fortunate.
“It really brought us together,” added Clay. “We got to experience giving something to the kids, and team bonding at the same time.”