This past year has been good for bicycles, with more people riding bikes instead of driving or sitting on the couch. However, this past year has not been so good for many others in our country and our world.
Almost 5 years ago, Bicycle Quarterly donated all receipts from two days to Doctors Without Borders in response to the terrible tsunami that swept the Indian Ocean. We made a contribution of almost $2000, but I also learned that charities need money most during times when there isn't a disaster to galvanize action.
Such a time is now. I read in the paper the other day that 25% of all children in the U.S. are receiving food stamps, because their families are too poor to feed them adequately.
In response to the need, here is our offer, good through midnight today (Tuesday, December 8, 2009):
Vintage Bicycle Press will donate $15 for each subscription or renewal to Bicycle Quarterly, or each purchase of our book "The Competition Bicycle" to two charities, split evenly:
- SAVE THE CHILDREN is an organization that fights child poverty in the U.S. and around the world. - DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS helps those most in need of help.
These organizations are non-political, and they have a four-star rating, with more than 87% of donations going to recipients, and not overhead.
Unfortunately, as the need goes up due to the recession, donations have decreased, because everybody feels pinched. Here is our opportunity to help. Even though this time, we cannot donate all our receipts - the recession has affected us, too - I am confident we can donate more this time than we did in 2004, because cycling has grown so much.
If your subscription still is current, you can add a year or two by renewing now, and we will make the same donation. For checks or money orders, the date of the postmark counts...
For more info, see
http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com/
Happy holidays!
Jan Heine
Editor
Bicycle Quarterly
2116 Western Ave.
Seattle WA 98121
http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com