Kifowit, Schools and Non-Profit Partner to Bring Bike Safety Helmets to Area Preschoolers

AURORA, Ill. - In an effort that helped fulfill the supply needs of a local preschool, state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Aurora, presented Sally Osborne, principal of Prairie Children Preschool in Aurora, with a donation of twenty new bike helmets for her students, Wednesday. The helmets were generously donated by Rick Bates, president of Rickey Bates BMX Banned Together, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing children with equipment and training and to promote bicycle safety, who saw Kifowit’s call for donations.

 “The children of Prairie Children Preschool will now be able learn how to ride their bikes with proper equipment and begin lifelong practices of safe riding, thanks to the donation of Mr. Bates and his organization,,” Kifowit said. “I am grateful that the school’s call for help was answered.”

Prairie Children Preschool, part of Indian Prairie School District 204 (IPSD), will use the bike helmets to ensure that their students are riding safely as they learn motor-skill activities on their bicycles and tricycles.  Helmets are vital safety equipment, and students could not ride safely without them.

“Thanks to the undertaking of Rep. Kifowit and the generosity of Mr. Bates, our students will now have the proper bike helmet equipment they need to start out the school year learning to ride in a safe and responsible way,” said Sally Osborne, principal of Prairie Children Preschool in Aurora. “We appreciate the community partnership that was formed to help our students.”

Kifowit’s efforts to collect helmets are part of many actions she is taking both locally and legislatively to promote public safety. She recently hosted a community discussion focused on neighborhood safety, where over 40 area residents joined Aurora police officers to discuss issues related to public safety, including back-to-school safety, stranger danger, and summer safety.  During this year’s legislative session, Kifowit backed measures to extend sentences for dangerous repeat offenders and introduced a resolution to encourage collaboration among several law enforcement agencies and increase efficiency of crime fighting efforts.

For more information, please contact Rep. Kifowit’s constituent service office at 630-585-1308, email her at Stephanie.Kifowit@att.net, or visit her website at www.ILDistrict84.com.