Give what you can, while you can. We’re all here for a reason, with different talents and abilities, and deep in the confines of our heart, we are givers, because if we give we make others feel valued and appreciated.

The best are creative givers, those who find a way to take their unique abilities and improve other lives, to touch others and affect their story.

Everyone has a story.

I am Mark Brodinsky and this is Storytelling for Giving.

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Storytelling for Giving: Daddy’s Little Riders

“I’m not doing it for the money, but instead to introduce youth to the sport and teach knowledge and responsibilities to the kids in an effective manner and safe environment.” – Paul Brown III

For Paul Brown III, giving back has meant going back… to his youth.

“I always tell this story,” says Paul. When I was a really young kid, maybe five or six, I was riding my tricycle up to the top of my street in Columbia, Maryland when I heard a loud engine noise in the distance. A guy soon rolls by in a motorcycle and he sticks his foot out and pretends he’s pedaling, even though he wasn’t. I thought it was so cool that he didn’t have to pedal, I didn’t care that he mocked me, I just loved what he was riding and it got me interested in motorcycles. I started watching racing and developed a genuine love for it. I didn’t get into racing or riding until I was in middle school – around age 13. My first bike was a Yamaha RT 100, a 1994 model and it was a trail bike. I got it from my friend’s brother who never seemed to like riding the bike and his parents were willing to sell it to me. I saved up my lawn mowing money and bought it. My parents didn’t really want me to have it, but my dad eventually saw the love I had for the bikes.”

Everything in life begins with a little love and the passion Paul had for motorcycles transcended into a big idea. He saw it in his mind, now he holds it in his hands… Daddy’s Little Riders, (https://www.daddysrider.com/)

“Eight or nine years ago I was on my big bike doing some track racing,” says Paul. “I did some racing back in the day and I was going around the track, but I was going really fast, even scaring myself with the speed and the maneuvers I needed to make, so my buddy and I decided we’ve gotta slow ourselves down and get some training. We took a class, learned a little bit about corner speed, corner spins and road racing in the dirt and we noticed there were dirt bikes with street tires on them. We looked around to see if this kind of thing had made it to the east coast, it’s been popular for years overseas and even on the west coast here, but we found that locally Sandy Hook Speedway hosted the mini-moto series and go-kart racing. The two go hand-in-hand because of the size of the track, so we got 150 F Honda’s and put street tires on them. We went out and started riding and found joy, because we could do a lot of the same stuff we were trying to do on the big bikes, on a smaller bike.”

For Paul, that’s where the idea to run his own mini-moto training camp came from, learning the craft, and teaching his own daughter, who was only 4-years-old at the time. “I thought how cool it would be to teach other kids this same thing,” Paul says. “It’s a different type of sport. You get all the leadership skills you would in other sports, as well as the discipline and self-confidence. You get all that stuff, but you get it on the bike because you have to respect the bike!”

It’s a unique program for the youth and Paul wants to keep it that way – because it’s not really about racing, it’s about riding and gaining those life skills. Sometimes in life, you’ve got to slow down to speed up!

“The whole things is centered around being creative with it,” says Paul. “There were organizations out there for kids, but it’s all about race, race, race. My idea is, how do we get a kid on a bike at 5-years-old who just loves the noise and the thrill? We provide everything you need, you just bring the kid. The bikes are governed so they only go the speed of a power wheel or go-kart.”

Paul says he wants to keep the concept simple, not only the platform he’s teaching on, but the reason he’s teaching at all, to get kids out of the house and active in this world.

“All of the gaming is taking the youth off the streets, keeping them inside and having them play games on a video system instead,” laments Paul. “I want to get them back engaged with what we all loved to do as kids, ride bikes, even bicycles if they want. But my business, my side-hustle, is based on the mini-moto platform and some other racing and we are able to do this nearly year-round.”

It’s having an effect. Whether it’s on training wheels or two wheels, Daddy’s Little Riders is helping kids to gain confidence and have fun!!

Paul says he recently taught a young girl, whose father was supportive of this program, but whose wife was scared to death for her daughter. “Two months ago, when it was all said and done, the father came up to me and said, ‘You know your program is authentic and customizable, cause every step of the way while my daughter was riding you got to tweak the program to fit her.’ “I never thought about it that way before, but it is how it goes… we work on what each individual child needs to work on, whether it’s turning or reaching the brake, we make it fit their individual skill level.”

Not only does Daddy’s Little Riders feature Paul’s knowledge, expertise and desire to give back, but it’s also a family affair, which is especially helpful since it’s currently a part-time business. Paul’s full-time gig is as the Information Technology Director for Prince George’s County Fire-EMS. Before that he worked for 16 years at the University of Maryland in the field of network engineering and IT as well.

So with Daddy’s Little Riders, having the support and the participation of his family makes the part-time process easier for Paul and he wants to keep it small because with a full-time job and a full-time family he says he wants to be able to make decisions that will positively affect his family.

“My wife, Shelly, does all the social media content and my daughter, Kamya, is a mentor, depending on the type of riders we have,” says Paul. “She’s 11-years-old now and if the riders are eligible to be on the track, I take my daughter out there and have some of the riders follow her. It allows them to understand more and she can talk in their terms. So if what I say is too technical or at an expert level, she can speak more in their language. ”

 

Speaking of language, Shelly is a speech pathologist and just recently opened her own private practice, so Paul says the family is trying to get that up and running as well. It’s a busy life, as it is for so many entrepreneurs, but the family is still committed to the passion project of Daddy’s Little Riders, after all, it was Shelly who came up with the name after watching Paul teach Kemya how to do it.

“The passion part of this mission, you fit it in where you can get it in,” says Paul. “If you get to a point where you can replace the full-time income, great. As far as for the future of what we are doing, I’m the type of individual who is not so proud to reach out to people who can help me and I can help them in turn. I enjoy trying to elicit people for guidance and support, including sponsors. I’d like to run my own facility one day, somewhere I can operate and hire a staff to do what I do and then I can incorporate different programs, as well as hire kids who are interested in riding to teach others to do the same.”

It’s also about giving back at an even deeper level.

“United Karting near Arundel Mills, the other track we use, has also asked me if there was a charity I would like to donate toward,” says Paul. “My dad has bone cancer and I think I’m going to want to do something in cancer research because that is something that is wiping out a lot of people around here. What little I’m able to profit now goes back into the business to keep the bikes going and have the gear for the kids, ages 5 to 16. There’s a lot of growth potential here, which I can really only reach with my own facility. We need backing… sponsors and to raise money. Am I ready for it? You’re never ready for the next big step because everything is a risk. It all depends on who is willing to get on board with it.”

Paul’s business is about embracing that same spirit we all have as children… when we believe anything is possible. Life is the ultimate ride, no matter how many wheels you’ve got under you, whether it’s four wheels, or only two. Daddy’s Little Riders is a great head start.

Until next time, thanks for taking the time.

Your Storyteller,
Mark Brodinsky

Email:paul@daddysrider.com

Website:http://www.daddysrider.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daddysrider/

Twitter: @daddysrider, #daddyslittleriders

Instagram: daddyslittleriders

Go Fund Me Donations:  https://www.gofundme.com/daddysrider

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There’s always a way. If you see something you want to accomplish, then dream, plan and take action – sooner or later you’re bound to find success. It’s one of the laws of the universe, what you focus on expands.

Find a way to give and you truly start to live.

When giving becomes a way of life, you’ve got quite a story to tell.

Everyone has a story.

I am Mark Brodinsky and this is Storytelling for Giving.

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Storytelling for Giving: The Why Behind MotorcycleTalks

“Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul.” ― Anonymous

For attorney Jason Plotkin, it’s a soulful sacrifice, a labor of love, a way to change hearts and minds, and a big part of his mission: to give back and at the same time, to enjoy the ride of life.

So when Jason started noticing the charitable work being done by bikers, he knew he had found his desire, to focus on a niche truly enriching the lives of others. All it takes is one idea – throw a pebble in the ocean, make a wave, or in this case, shift an idea about motorcyclists into high gear.

“The way the US and the world are right now is so fractured,” says Jason. “It’s all so opinionated and polarized. I started to meet a lot of motorcycle riders who are very charitable. Most are blind to color or politics, they just care. So I wanted to share their stories and change any stereotypes out there about bikers.”

Jason, who participates and orchestrates a number of charitable efforts, says he used to see motorcyclist Chuck Ritz a great deal out in the community and at the 9-11 rides. Each September, Chuck places flags along Putty Hill Avenue in Parkville, one for every person who lost his or her life in 9-11. “I was so impressed by the work Chuck did so selflessly,” says Jason. “And I knew more people needed to know how charitable motorcycle riders really are.”

“As an attorney handling personal injury cases I have witnessed first-hand the issues motorcyclists go through after an accident, not just physical, but their challenges navigating an insurance claim and the legal system. It really clicked for me when I was representing a rider who had been injured. I said to myself I should tie in what I’ve learned from handling this case and the good deeds I see so many riders doing and create a community force for good.”

The first story for MotorcycleTalks was about Chuck and his efforts to give back, including his Hope and Peace Foundation, which has raised thousands to support a myriad of causes, most prominently two rides: one raises funds to give hope to those facing the pain of child abuse, the other ride is to remember all those connected to the 9/11 attacks. (https://www.motorcycletalks.com/stories-chuck-ritz).

Chuck’s story helped launch the Motorcycle Talks website back in October of 2018 and the idea has taken on a life of its own.

“Other people think it’s so amazing,” says Jason. “The stories are so well-received in the motorcycle community. The riders are happy to be represented so favorably and are thrilled we are changing the stereotypes of riders out there. Just because some have long hair and tattoos or feel the need for speed doesn’t matter, they are human just like everyone else.”

The one thing you can’t always see, or others fail to recognize when they see a biker come up alongside them, is the heart of that rider. So many motorcyclists have huge hearts and want to funnel their passion that comes from the freedom and joy of the ride, to help others less fortunate.

Just like Len Elliott, the focus of the second MotorcycleTalks website story. Len became a Mason and a Shriner and helps lead the Boumi Motor Corp, dedicated to those Shriners who enjoy fellowship and the open road. The Motor Corp does incredible work in raising awareness and funds for children in need. (https://www.motorcycletalks.com/stories-len-elliott)

The Motorcycle Talks website and stories align perfectly with Jason Plotkin’s mission of serving and enriching the community in general. Jason, CEO of the Pinder Plotkin Legal team, has won award after award representing causes and philanthropic organizations, especially in Baltimore County. Jason serves on the Board for the Parkville Carney Business Association, the Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc. and the YMCA Parkville/Perry Hall Community Advisory Board.

“The Motorcycle Talks website and stories is just another way for me to give back and not have it take away from my family time,” says Jason. “Like many of the other charity events I participate in, I take my girls, 6-year-old Hailey and 4-year-old Chloe and my wife along as much as possible. I’m always looking for opportunities to do more than one thing at a time, but still, be present as a husband and father.”

Jason continues: “I’m expecting to launch my next book next month, this one on motorcycle safety, as another way to give back. My goal is to have the books printed, and then donate them to motorcycle organizations and dealers to resell the books and give a portion of the proceeds, or all of the proceeds, to the charities we tell stories about.”

One of the biggest charities in recent years was the Ride Across Maryland, featuring former WJZ-TV personality, Dick Gelfman. Gelfman was more than happy to share his story with Motorcycle Talks – describing his life-long love affair with motorcycles, as well as the story of The Ride, from its early beginnings, to where it is today, as the group looks to attract a younger demographic and relaunch The Ride, hopefully as early as next year. (https://www.motorcycletalks.com/stories-dick-gelfman)

Then there was the story of Wayne Hoffman, enjoying the ride of his life, as the Huffy the Clown. Now that he’s retired, Wayne’s mission in life is participating in a ton of motorcycle events, especially the charity events, creating fun and “talk-about” balloons, helping to relieve others of their troubles by helping them smile, and a nicely crafted balloon can do just that. (https://www.motorcycletalks.com/stories-wayne-hoffman)

Relief also can be serious business. One of the stories that Jason Plotkin says, “blew me away”, was that of the Motorcycle Relief Project, (https://www.motorcycletalks.com/motorcycle-relief-project). The story featured an interview with Mike Bobbit, the operations manager for MRP and a first-hand description of the impact of the Relief Project from Richard, a veteran suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, but who found the Motorcycle Relief Project and has seen his life turn around because of his experience with MRP.

Louie Isenberg, another motorcycle enthusiast with quite a tale to tell, shared his story with MotorcycleTalks back in March of this year. Back in 2014, Louie suffered life-threatening injuries in an accident where he was hit by a car. But for Louie, it became all about the comeback and giving back.  Viewing what he saw as an injustice in his area schools when it came to free lunches and those who did or did not qualify, Louie came up with the idea of the Lugnut Lunch Program, named after the business where he services bikes, the Lugnut Custom Service Station, in Stonesboro, Pennsylvania. Louie is living proof that motorcyclists are always looking for a way to play a part in improving the lives of others, (https://www.motorcycletalks.com/louie-isenberg).

Jason says he was especially fond of the story about Maryland Delegate Kathy Szeliga. “Kathy is the all-American woman,” says Jason. “She’s like every other person out there, but she picked up a love for bikes as a child and never let go of it. No matter how successful she has been she never forgets that passion and is now advocating for riders all across Maryland.” (https://www.motorcycletalks.com/kathy-szeliga)

Then there’s the most recent story, of Cyndi Brandt, President of the Mid-Atlantic Women’s Motorcycle Rally. The MAWMR was started with a vision of creating a community, but also as a fundraiser in support of women who face breast cancer. Over the years, the rally has evolved to assist any woman with any challenge surrounding any cancer. “Cyndi’s rally has become a force for women in the motorcycle community,” says Jason. “It’s so amazing. Before we did the story I couldn’t believe we had never heard about it… I mean how could we not know about it? It’s helping people in all walks of life.” (https://www.motorcycletalks.com/cyndi-brandt)

Jason says he wants to see the MotorcycleTalks stories take on a life of their own. Right now he is self-funding the website (and utilizing yours truly to write the stories), but in the near future, he would like to see it become fully funded through donations or sponsorships. “I’m fully funding this project right now,” says Jason, “because I want to get it off the ground so others can benefit. There is too much negative news out there, I wanted to build a website to share positive stories. The motorcyclists do amazing work in terms of giving back to the community and to charitable organizations and everyone should know about it.”

It’s just another cause close to Jason’s heart because he loves to give. Between his passion for living a bigger purpose and the motorcycle community’s burning desire to serve the community and the less fortunate, it’s now all about synergy and significance.

MotorcycleTalks is ready and waiting to share your story. Let’s give everyone something to talk about.

Your Storyteller,
Mark Brodinsky

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are two ways to look at the world, one as if nothing is a miracle and the other as if everything is a miracle.

Because it is, especially when you give.

The very act of giving is in and of itself the manifestation of a story.

Everyone has a story.

I am Mark Brodinsky and this is Storytelling for Giving.

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Storytelling for Giving: Rally for Love

“For me as soon as I get on the bike, roll around the corner and go down on the throttle, it’s the burst of air and exhilaration that hits you…” – Cyndi Brandt

For Cyndi Brandt, one of the true loves of her life developed at an early age. “My mom found notes on a paper I had written when I was only five-years-old,” says Cyndi. “I wrote about growing up and I mentioned motorcycles on that paper. My mom found it when I got older and framed it for me.”

If you can see it in your mind, you can hold it in your hands. It wasn’t long before a TV commercial prompted Cyndi to take her developing love of two wheels to the next level. “There was a Honda commercial on TV,” says Cyndi. “My brother looks at my parents and says, ‘I would love one’, “and they said as soon as you have $200 you can get your own. He was nine and I was five. The next thing I know my dad went out and bought a Honda Mini-Trail 50 and a Honda Trail 70. I rode on the back of my dad’s Honda 70… the first day I got on the back of that bike the bug was there. I was in love.”

Over time her big wheels kept on turnin’ – and now we fast forward to today. Cyndi serves as the President of the Mid-Atlantic Women’s Motorcycle Rally, the premier women’s motorcycling event of the Mid-Atlantic. MAWMR was started with a vision of creating a community, but to also fundraise in support of women who face breast cancer. Over the years, the rally has evolved to assist any woman with any challenge surrounding any cancer, (http://www.mawmr.org/). The non-profit has chosen two local organizations, H.O.P.E. and Pink Out that provide direct support to women and their families in the local Mid-Atlantic communities.

“There’s a huge rallying cry to empower women and to give back to the community through our fundraising,” says Cyndi. “We have women who come to us and have lost their sense of worth having gone through cancer. They come through our doors, or to our rally and feel this great sense of community, giving them support and bringing energy into their lives to get them back on track. I had a good friend who was so sad about her life and the rally and our organization and community helped her recover her sense of self-worth. We have essentially four-thousand women who have come through the rally over the years and many come back year-after-year and we are welcoming new women who come to us all the time. I’m always amazed every year by the progress we are making.”

MAWMR started back in 1993 by a woman with a purpose. “It all began with Nancy Warren,” says Cyndi. “In the early ’90s, there were not a lot of women on the road on bikes. People would see a woman riding her own bike and act surprised because it wasn’t a common sight. You’d see most women riding with their husband, or boyfriend on the back, but not so many riding on their own. Nancy put feelers out and got women to create this rally. In 1993 about 23 people were part of the first MAWMR, and it blew up in the early 2000s, and we recently had record attendance with about 300 female riders!”

It’s about women motorcyclists helping women. It’s girl power and the love of the ride. You’ve got to love it to be passionate about it and you won’t find many riders more passionate about their bike then Cyndi.

“For years I rode my motorcycle to work every day,” says Cyndi. “It was not uncommon to see me every workday with a helmet on my desk. The joke was always I had pretty boots for the office. In fact for a time, for four months back in 2010, I had no other mode of transportation, I had gotten rid of my car and didn’t know what I wanted to buy next, so I rode my Harley Davidson Road King everywhere. I’d come to work in a t-shirt and jeans, close my office door and then change into my work clothes.”

Cyndi continues, “we are just blessed to have the most beautiful roads in Maryland. You’ve got the beach, the mountains, straight roads, twisted roads and I feel so blessed to live in this state. I can do a quick ride to the office for 11 minutes, or go support a women’s event, or go on a much longer ride. I belong to the Baltimore Ramblers, a group that was formed back in 1929… a warm-up ride with them is usually 150 miles. I recently rode about 900 miles in 36 hours!”

For Cyndi and for other women, the motorcycle can represent much more than just the thrill of two wheels, it’s a metaphor for facing the challenges and taking control of your life.

“It’s very empowering,” says Cyndi. “The sheer power a motorcycle makes you feel connected to something you can fully control and something you can do. I talk to women every day who say, ‘Oh I can never do this, I can never ride a motorcycle’ .”But the answer is, yes, you can, you just need practice, just like anything else in life. I see so many women whose lives are transformed by riding a bike, whether it’s a small one or a larger one like I have. The accomplishment… specifically with women, is just overwhelming. And the sense of community… relaxation and the thrill of the ride is just one part, but it’s also the community we have been able to build. I’ve met people from all walks of life: rich, poor, different ethnic backgrounds and all have one common thread, their love of motorcycles and what it helps them to become.”

What the Mid-Atlantic Women’s Motorcycle Rally has become is something big, held every June, it brings together women motorcyclists and enthusiasts for a three-day rally full of friendship, games, educational seminars, rides, contests, and fundraising to support women with the challenges of cancer. The weekend culminates in the Parade of Chrome to honor women riders, cancer survivors and to pledge support to those that have been touched by cancer.

This year the ride is June 20-22 in Front Royal, Virginia. “It’s our third year in Front Royal and that town has been amazing for us,” says Cyndi. “It is the gateway to so many beautiful rides. There’s the Skyline Drive to the Blue Ridge Parkway. It’s just a great place to ride a motorcycle. Groups will fundraise throughout the year and then bring the donations to the rally, or they will participate in some of the fundraising activities on site and raise money that way. You can still participate in the MAWMR, visit the website and can sign up to ride until June 1st, (http://www.mawmr.org/). Nearly $21,000 was raised last year and the grand total for the history of the Mid-Atlantic Women’s Motorcycle Rally so far is more than $330,000!”

But it’s much more than money, it’s the camaraderie and community.  Life is hard, so you’ve got to do it hard… and being on a bike is one way to ride along in life as few others have experienced. At this year’s rally, a living legend, Gloria Tramontin-Struck, will be on hand. Gloria, who is now 93, is well known as the reigning matriarch of the women’s motorcycling community. She was one of the early members of the Motorcycle Maids women’s club and she is both a member of the Sturgis Hall of Fame and in 2016 she was inducted into the American Motorcycle Association Hall of Fame.

For women, Gloria’s success can be a rallying cry. If she can do it, so can you. Cyndi herself is trying to lead the way when it comes to women and the passion and power of the motorcycle. “I’m super-passionate about bikes and the rally,” says Cyndi. “I’ve been the president for eight months now and it’s a real opportunity to get the word out about what we do. We support our mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters in every way we can to make sure they are not alone in their journey battling cancer. And it’s all types of female cancers, ovarian, breast, fibroid… the hope is that anyone with cancer, not just the women, but their families as well can benefit from our efforts.”

Cyndi currently rides a Harley Davidson CVO Streetglide, her wife, Wrae, rides the Can-Am Ryker 3-Wheeler, but whether it’s two or three wheels it doesn’t matter, Cyndi says it’s as much about the bike as it is the woman, if you respect the power and feel the passion, then the two can become one and the same.

“The fastest growing segment of motorcyclists is women,” says Cyndi. “People love seeing all the women riding together and there has been a huge uptick of women on three wheels recently. The new Harley products coming out can extend riding for women later in life and they are great for those intimidated by the two-wheelers. For a woman, it’s simply about the empowerment of being on the bike, any bike. I do a lot of public speaking and I use a lot of motorcycle analogies. You go and your life goes, exactly where you look. The first thing they teach you on a bike is to pick up your feet and direct your gaze and then your bike will go exactly where you are looking. If you look right, you go right, if you look a the edge of the road, you’re gonna fall off that edge. That’s good life advice too.”

What Cyndi and the MAWMR are looking to do is change lives and have their best year ever with the 2019 rally. It’s a collaboration of givers and a community of women, all looking to help one another and make a difference. Truly a rally for love.

Until next time, thanks for taking the time.

Your Storyteller,
Mark Brodinsky

(A reminder: You can still participate in the MAWMR, visit the website and can sign up to ride until June 1st, (http://www.mawmr.org/) )

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Become part of The Billion. You can read and learn more about Mark Brodinsky at: (http://markbrodinsky.life/)

 

 

 

 

In life, it’s all about giving and love, who can you serve, how can you serve?

Living in service to others is one of the greatest attributes of being human, it also makes for a wonderful story.

Everyone has a story.

I am Mark Brodinsky and this is Storytelling for Giving.

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Storytelling for Givng: Food for Thought

It’s all about the comeback and then giving back.

It was a perfectly clear night in Florida when the car driven by a nurse changed the course of Lewis Isenberg’s life.  It was October, 5th, 2014 and Louie was on the way back from a biker appreciation event. The driver, still wearing her scrubs from her nursing job, with her boyfriend and her groceries in the car, never saw Louie on his bike. Her boyfriend saw Louie coming through the green light, but his scream of terror was too late.

The collision was head-on, car vs bike. Louie lost the battle, big time.

“I ended up with 20 bones broken in 108 places, neck, back, skull, legs, and feet,” says Louie. “I spent nearly two weeks in a drug-induced coma, with swelling in my brain. I spent my rehab in trauma care and was told I’d never walk right again. I spent a ton of time in a wheelchair, but eventually, I made it all the way back.” Louie’s friends, Eric and Becky Dhabliwala, asked Louie’s girlfriend Kelly if they could start a GoFundMe page for Louie. The couple ended up helping to raise about $7,000 dollars, to allow Louie and Kelly to find a place to live for a post-accident.

While on the comeback trail, Louie’s compassion, which seems to permeate the hearts of so many bikers, was on full display. He could have sued the driver of the vehicle, who was clearly at fault, but he chose a different path.

“She was totally sober,” says Louie. “Accidents happen. She was crying hard at the scene. I found out she had kids, a family, and 28 years to go on a 30-year mortgage, it would have ruined her life.” Louie actually ended up with a confidential settlement from the woman’s insurance company and it led to him gaining the ability to make a move back home. “I’m originally from Pennsylvania,” says Louie, “and eventually, my dad called me to say he found me a place back up north, one I could buy for a sum of cash about equal to the settlement. That got me back home and I now have two acres of land and a two-story house built back in 1893. I’m gutting it and rehabbing it and I’m back doing what I love, working on motorcycles. I was born and raised around motorcycles.”

With a renewed purpose in life and his passion for bikes, Louie decided to also find a way to give back. Viewing what he saw as an injustice in his area schools when it came to free lunches and those who did or did not qualify, Louie came up with the idea of the Lugnut Lunch Program, named after the business where he services bikes, the Lugnut Custom Service Station, in Stonesboro, Pennsylvania.

“I still remember as a kid, standing in church lines to get food,” says Louie. “I don’t think any kid should go hungry, but the way the system is set up, not all those who are declined for the free lunch program in the Lakeview School District, should really be declined. Louie says he sees that even though some families are not in poverty, or qualify for state assistance, they might cut back on jobs, or resist bringing in too much income (like turning down a raise at work), just to qualify for a free lunch. Louie believes that shouldn’t be happening. He believes there should be equity across the board for lunches in Lakeview.

The school system put up some roadblocks for Louie to help fund the lunch program with his own money, but he’s been able to work around the challenges, having families come directly to him for assistance.

“If a family gets denied for the free lunch program in Lakeview, we verify their denial letter first,” says Louie. “But my girlfriend is a finance manager at an auto shop and she helps out at the motorcycle shop as well. If it all looks good, she cuts a check to Lakeview Cafeteria with the student’s name in the memo section, to pay for the child’s lunch. The student will get the same lunch the state-funded free lunch students receive.”

And Louie is using bikes to broker the revenue stream.

This year, Lugnut Customs is raffling off a 2000 Harley Davidson Softail, rebuilt by Louie, to raise money for the lunch program and benefit 6th graders in the Lakeview District. The $20.00 bike raffle ticket purchase gets the ticket holder into the Season Opener, held May 4th. That same day there is a live auction at Mowery’s Auction Service to benefit the Lugnut Lunch Program. The auction is free and open to all and items can be donated to be auctioned off.  The raffle and auctions have been a big success. Last year Lugnut Customs sold 1,000 tickets and donated $10,000 of the proceeds to the Maple Lane Charitable Foundation. The remainder went to the Lugnut Lunch Program.”

The goal is to target not only those on the bubble for the lunch program but even higher income households. Why?

Louie says the program is incentive driven. He doesn’t want to see anyone lying about income on an application, just to qualify for free lunches. Louie says it gives parents an incentive not to fake the income levels, so they can still work hard at their job, get paid what they should, and if it puts them in a higher income bracket, then, as Louie states, “know that it won’t get taken away by the lunch lady.”  The free lunch or reduced lunch program offered by the state is then available to those who might not otherwise qualify.

“Why should people who are paying taxes to fund the free lunch program, not benefit themselves?” says Louie.

It’s a way to think differently, to give back and perhaps food for thought for all of us.

To inquire about the Lugnut Lunch Program, call 724-376-MOTO, or e-mail lugnutcustoms@rocketmail.com.

Until next time, thanks for taking the time.

Your Storyteller,
Mark Brodinsky

For more stories of courage, hope and inspiration in the Motorcycle Community, visit: (https://www.motorcycletalks.com/stories)