Week 2: Need Statement

Childhood obesity remains high across the U.S., with about 17% of children and adolescents reported as obese¹. While state-level data for childhood obesity is more difficult to obtain, some counties in Texas report obesity levels for low-income preschoolers at 20% or greater¹. Additionally, obese children are five times more likely to become obese adults³, putting them at greater risk for heart disease, diabetes, and the high health care costs associated with these chronic conditions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend at least 60 minutes a day of physical activity for children and adolescents², which can be difficult for families who have busy schedules. This difficulty can also be compounded by children who think of exercise as boring or a chore.

The BikeTexas KidsKup race series has provided a free, non-competitive, safe space for families to learn about bike safety and how fun bicycling can be to about 200 children per year since 1999. Even reluctant riders have left KidsKup events with big smiles and a feeling of accomplishment, and many of these children return for other races, bring friends along, and are more likely to ride at home after finding out how fun it is to ride with their peers at a race. BikeTexas would like to continue this important program to fight childhood obesity, and expand it to even more children across the state, particularly in low-income areas.

BikeTexas has sponsors that provide bike safety information, healthy snacks, race numbers, and medals for children who participate in KidsKup. However, to continue the program, BikeTexas needs a partner who is committed to fighting childhood obesity to provide for the staffing hours needed to plan and present 20 races per year. BikeTexas is requesting $10,000 per year ($5,000 per school semester) from your organization to reach more children across Texas with the joy of bike riding and messages about bike safety.


¹ CDC: Overweight and Obesity: Data and Statistics: Childhood Obesity Facts. (http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html)
² CDC: Physical activity: How much physical activity do children need? (http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/children.html)
³ CDC News Room: New CDC Vital Signs: Obesity Declines Among Low-Income Preschoolers (http://www.cdc.gov/media/dpk/2013/dpk-vs-child-obesity.html#graphics)

Week 1: What's the Problem?

I work for BikeTexas, the statewide advocacy and education organization for biking and walking in Texas. (Our mission statement is to advance bicycle access, safety, and education in Texas.) Much of our education arm was funded for the last 10 years by Safe Routes to School (SRTS) grants from TxDOT, but due to changes in the federal laws that govern transportation funding, TxDOT decided not to renew any SRTS grants for 2013.

In some ways, this is a good thing. Being dependent on TxDOT for funding does put some limitations on BikeTexas' work and how we can use the funds, plus any groups that do not agree with federal funds supporting bicycle work are quick to complain about BikeTexas wasting taxpayer dollars, often opening us up to even greater scrutiny than that already required by law. So, there is something to be said for being released from those conditions.

However, the loss of the former grants has left the BikeTexas education programs unfunded. These programs teach bicycle and walking safety to elementary students across Texas (about 200,000 students per year) as well as giving support and encouragement to teachers, parents, and community leaders to host Bike to School days, Bike Rodeos, and other programs to encourage families to seek active transportation. BikeTexas considers these programs vital to fighting the obesity and diabetes epidemics among Texas children, especially low-income Texas children, and an economic alternative for families who may struggle to pay for a car to take children to school or other activities. By making cycling and walking attractive to young Texans, BikeTexas is investing in the next generation of healthy, active, fiscally smart Texans.

I would like to take a step toward finding funding for the BikeTexas Education programs. While I don't expect to find a source to fully fund the program in the scope of this class, I'd love to at least make a start towards a large source, and perhaps find a smaller source to fund at least aspect of the program. KidsKup, a mountain bike race for under-12 riders that serves about 300 children per year, is funded for the fall races right now but needs a new sponsor or grant for the spring 2014 series. For this class, I'd like to focus on finding a smaller grant that will keep the bike race running.