Who knew that good grades and regular school attendance could be the remedy for a broken bike?
Just ask Judah Kadiasang.
The 9-year-old boy was among 16 students who received new bicycles Saturday morning, thanks to a partnership between the Vancouver Police Activities League and McCord’s Vancouver Toyota.
As Judah waited to pick out his new bike and helmet, he needed only one word to sum up the experience: “Awesome!”
He has a bicycle at home, the Crestline third-grader said, but he described its condition as broken.
The Police Activities League is a nonprofit that promotes positive relationships between police officers and young people through educational programs and recreational opportunities.
Saturday’s bike recipients were recognized for taking part in PAL activities during the school year, keeping up their grades and attending school regularly.
“It’s a great motivation,” said Helen Kadiasang, the third-grader’s mother.
Rylan Kennedy, a third-grader at Orchards Elementary School, was a first-year participant in the PAL program.
“I played soccer,” 9-year-old Rylan said.
The children were chosen from among eight elementary schools: Ogden, Fruit Valley, King, Anderson, Harney and Marshall in the Vancouver district, along with Orchards and Crestline in the Evergreen district.
McCord’s Toyota provided the bicycles, with the help of a discount from Western Bike Works in Portland.
“I collaborate often” with PAL programs, said Phillip Cianni, general manager of the car dealership near the intersection of Fourth Plain Boulevard and Interstate 205. As a reserve officer with the Washougal Police Department, he is a participant as well as a sponsor.
Vancouver’s Police Activities League works with 2,500 to 3,000 children at least once during the course of the year, said Jenny Thompson, executive director.
“There are 400 in programs we see multiple times,” Thompson said.
Julie Ballou, a Vancouver patrol officer who attended the event, called the program a good way for police and kids to “interact on a day-to-day basis through activities.
“It can break down kids’ stereotypes of police officers at a young age,” said Ballou, a member of Vancouver’s PAL board.
And that age “is getting younger and younger.”
The activities don’t end when the school year is over, by the way.
“Our summer camp starts Monday at Orchards and Mill Plain elementaries,” Thompson said. About 600 children have signed up.
