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Chiloquin Youth Bike Program Awarded $110,000 Grant from CATENA Foundation

Published: 9.5.2024

Chiloquin Visions in Progress (CVIP) is excited to announce that the Chiloquin Youth Bike Program has been awarded a substantial $110,000 grant from the CATENA Foundation. This generous funding will enhance the program’s efforts to renew and expand its bike fleet, improve biking infrastructure, and establish a structured support system for the youth bike programs.

The Chiloquin Youth Bike Program, affectionately known as “Bike Club,” was initiated in 2021 under the direction of Hannah Levine and Richard La China, with initial funding from local business Ninja Mountain Bike Performance. Both six-year residents of Chiloquin, Hannah, and Richard, are certified mountain bike instructors who are passionate about getting kids on bikes. Richard is the founder of Ninja Mountain Bike Performance, and Hannah serves as the company’s Captain of Global Development.

Since the Chiloquin Bike Club’s inception, the program has achieved significant milestones, including:

  • Acquiring 50 strider bikes for Chiloquin Elementary School.
  • Teaching kindergarten and 1st graders how to ride a bike during PE class.
  • Establishing an after-school bike club for students in grades 2 through 12.
  • Organizing annual elementary biking field trips.
  • Constructing a bike track at Chiloquin Elementary School.
  • Building the new Chiloquin Bike Park.
  • Participating in community events like the Bike Rodeo at the Chi-Town Family Festival and the 4th of July Parade with over 30 kids.

Grant funds will be directed toward three primary areas:

  1. Renewing and expanding the bike fleet and equipment.
  2. Enhancing trail features at both the Chiloquin Bike Park and the Chiloquin Elementary Bike Playground.
  3. Hiring paid staff to support the program and ensure its longevity.

“We are incredibly grateful to the CATENA Foundation for their generous support,” said Hannah Levine, Program Co-Founder & Manager. “This grant will enable us to make biking more accessible and safe for the youth in our community, encouraging healthier lifestyles, improving access to safe biking trails, and fostering stronger community bonds.”