Portland-based KEEN Footwear has announced a partnership with the 88bikes Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides bicycles to young people in developing countries.
The partnership is part of KEEN’s Hybrid.Care campaign whose mission is to “support social and environmental organizations that have paved the way for change through community, education and understanding”. The company plans to announce the partnership at the Interbike trade show which begins in Las Vegas tomorrow.
88bikes will receive funding from KEEN to buy tools and bike maintenance training for bike recipients. At Interbike, KEEN match the first 100 donations to the organization. 88bikes’ 2010 campaign will focus on delivering bikes to children who have been rescued from human trafficking in several countries across a few continents.
Since moving to Portland in 2006, KEEN has supported bicycling both as sponsors and as advocates. Their Spring 2007 catalog featured Portland bike scenes, they organized a “Hybrid Pedal” bike tour from Portland to Utah, and Hybrid.Care Foundation Director Chris Enlow is a member of Metro’s Executive Council on Active Transportation.
I propose Keen assist children in this country buy bikes – by hiring kids to make shoes here, instead of the children they employ to make shoes in China.
I propose blatant advertisements should not masquerade as news articles.