JBBIF In the News                                  Upcoming Events

WILDFLOWER TRIATHLON, LAKE SAN ANTONIO, CA MAY 5th and 6th

Jim Barnes, Education Coordinator for JBBIF and brother of Jeff, along with Mike Keller, friend of the JBBIF, competed in the 25th Anniversary Olympic Triathlon on Sunday, May 6th.  Thanks to all who donated to this fundraising event.  All proceeds are going to the purchase of helmets for the JBBIF.  Both trained hard and were very pleased with their finish.   

FIRST FIVE GRANT

JBBIF has recently been awarded a grant to purchase helmets for children ages 5 and under.  This grant is through First Five of Tulare County under Proposition 10.  We are in the process of setting up events with preschools.  If you are interested in finding out more information, call 559.679.3702 or e-mail us at mail@jbarnesfoundation.org.

BICYCLE RODEOS and HELMET SAFETY

Thursday, May 3, 2007 @ Cottonwood Creek Elementary, Visalia
A total of 44 helmets sized and given out; 5 helmets were through our First Five Grant

Tuesday, May 22, 2007 Helmet Safety, Vandalia Head Start, Porterville
265 helmets were sized and given out at this event; 184 were through our First Five Grant

Wednesday, May 23, 2007 Helmet Safety, COS Daycare, Visalia
59 helmets sized and handed out; all 59 were through our First Five Grant

Thursday, May 24, 2007 @ Oak Grove Elementary, Visalia
82 helmets were sized with 32 from our First Five Grant

Tuesday, June 19, 2007 @ YMCA "Race Camp", Visalia
A total of 24 helmets were sized and given out.

SKATE COMPETITION

On Saturday, May 26, 2007 the V-Games Street Skate Competition was held at Provident Skate Park beginning at 9:00 a.m.   JBBIF had a booth setup with multi-sport helmets for youth.  Helmets were given away to those participants needing one along with 9 donated to the City of Visalia for future use at the park.  

BIKE TO WORK DAY, Thursday, May 17, 2007

JBBIF was one of many sponsors for the Bike to Work Day.  This was our first event giving helmets to adults.  We were able to fit and hand out over 55 helmets.

2007 QUAD KNOPF SEQUOIA CYCLING CLASSIC

JBBIF was fortunate to participate in the 2007 Quad Knopf Sequoia Cycling Classic as the charity partner on March 17th and 18th.  It was a fun filled exciting weekend!  We were surprised and grateful recipients of proceeds raised by Valley Business Bank at the March Visalia Chamber of Commerce Mixer held on Wednesday, March 14, 2007.  JBBIF held a charity walk/run on Sunday, March 18th with proceeds going towards the purchase of bicycle/multi-sport helmets.  The Classic was a success and we look forward to an even bigger and better 2008. 

2006 Events

2006 QUAD KNOPF SEQUOIA CYCLING CLASSIC

TRIATHLON ACROSS AMERICA

Jim Barnes, brother of Jeff Barnes and Education Coordinator of JBBIF, began a Triathlon Across America (TRAAM) on June 10, 2006 in San Diego, CA.  He completed the TRAAM on July 29, 2006, in Jacksonville,  Florida.  The purpose was to raise brain injury awareness and to share prevention education by giving out bicycle helmets along the way. Visit here to see the TRAAM website and blog!

BICYCLE RODEO @ HURLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Our 1st bicycle rodeo was held in October, 2006, at Hurley Elementary School in honor of Tanner Berbereia, a former student of Jim Barnes, who was killed in an auto accident in July, 2006.  The foundation was honored to have Tanner's parents, Rick and Debbie, join us in our 1st bicycle rodeo.  It was deemed a great success by Hurley Elementary!

ROCK THE BLOCK

SILENT AUCTION CHRISTMAS TREE

Artis, Hare and Company, a local CPA firm, sponsored a silent auction tree at the Visalia Chamber of Commerce's Christmas Tree Auction on December 1st, 2006.  Proceeds from the sale went to support the ongoing mission of JBBIF.

CHRISTMAS EVE @ VISALIA EMERGENCY AID

The foundation partnered with Visalia Breakfast Rotary to provide bicycles and helmets to those in need at Visalia Emergency Aid on Christmas Eve.  Visalia Breakfast Rotary provided the bicycles and we provided the helmets.  Several of our board members along with a few volunteers worked all morning to make sure every child receiving a bicycle was also fitted properly with a new helmet.  Although it was extremely cold that morning, the stories heard about families waiting out in the cold overnight just to get food, jackets and toys was very humbling.  The smiles on the children's faces as they road away with their new bicycles and helmets definitely made it all worthwhile.

HEADS UP FOR HELMETS CAMPAIGN

We continue to seek partnerships with local organizations and municipalities to provide bicycle/skateboard helmets for children and teens, through our Heads Up for Helmets Campaign.