There are bicycles built for two – then there are bicycles built by two.

Last week, One Hope United received a bike donation thanks to two other organizations, Arete Wealth Management and Together We Rise, proving that a little teamwork and elbow grease can make a big difference.

Arete WealthManagement, a financial investment firm headquartered in Chicago, recently hosted a conference for their top-performing advisers at Hotel EMC2 downtown. To give back to the community where their company is based, Arete partnered with One Hope United and Together We Rise to build bicycles for children served by OHU programs. The bikes were provided by Together We Rise, whose mission is to improve the lives of children in foster care.

Arete Wealth Management sponsored the donation on the morning of September 18th. As part of their service exercise, the advisers, including CEO Josh Rogers, quickly formed teams to start building the bicycles. Fourteen bikes were assembled and lined up, ready to go for a ride. One Hope United loaded up a cargo van and delivered them to one of our facilities that serves children in care.

Thanks to Arete and Together We Rise, children served by OHU were able to bike around a forested neighborhood just in time for the last few days of summer.