During the winter break, the IUS men’s basketball team kept busy by adding wins to their 13-6 record but also found time to give back to the community.

The team, led by Wiley Brown, IUS men’s head basketball coach, partnered with the New Albany-Floyd County Parks Department to provide new bicycles to 25 children in need. The bikes were provided by an anonymous donor.

“It’s a good program,” Brown said. “With all this diabetes, high blood pressure and all the stuff going on with the kids these days, I think it is definitely a good situation that they can get out and ride their bike and have fun.”

The recipients of the bicycles were chosen by the Parks Department, but Brown said he thought it was important to not only pick children in need but also those who were solid students in school.

Kathy Wilkerson, recreation director for New Albany-Floyd County Parks Department, said the children were also evaluated by their school attendance and overall attitude.

“As recreation director, I have had the privilege of working with thousands of Floyd County children,” Wilkerson said. “We know that every child has a purpose, and our department works to enhance their potential in many ways.”

The bikes were hand delivered by the Grenadiers on Dec. 20 at the Griffin Street Recreation Center.

The IUS basketball players wheeled the bicycles out to the surprised children as an early Christmas gift.

Brown said giving the gift of bicycles to the children in need would be a gift they could cherish for multiple reasons.

“What’s so amazing about it, I remember getting my first bicycle, and that’s how I kept in shape for my sports, and I loved it,” Brown said. “With the kids these days and not staying in shape, the health issues that they have, I just wanted to give them a choice.”

The Parks Department also provided the children with helmets and locks for their new gift.

Brown said he was pleased with the impact his players made in the community and is enthusiastic about making the giveaway an annual tradition.

“It’s a very important thing to have the mindset that once they leave Indiana University they can see how much giving back means,” Brown said. “You can hear people talk about it, but they had to see the smiles on those kid’s faces.”

By HANNA WOODS

Staff

hrwoods@umail.iu.edu