story & photos
by Jessica Warzeniak
Dime Bank hosted a ceremony at their Norwichtown branch on Friday, October 2nd as part of the Bikes for Kids initiative. Dime Bank partnered with Bikes for Kids, a non-profit organization based in Old Lyme, to present 20 underprivileged children from Norwich with reconditioned bicycles, helmets, backpacks, and school supplies.
During the ceremony, Jim Cronin, President, Dime Bank, pulled on his special “pirate” glasses and announced, “Pirates have treasure, and we have treasure for you! Do you know what treasure we have here for you?”
“Bikes!” said the kids.
The children were picked with help from Norwich Human Services and Madonna Place.
“This is the first year that Dime Bank has participated with Bikes for Kid,” said Sarah Matthews, Vice President of Marketing, Dime Bank. and coordinator of the event “Dime Bank is very involved in the community. When we heard about Bikes for Kids, we thought this is something we could do with the Dime.”
Bikes for Kids was formed in 1989 by Chuck Graeb to provide disadvantaged children with free bicycles. Their motto, “Put a smile on a kid’s face!” held true.
