Two shiny motorcycles parked at the main entrance to Arkansas Children's Hospital draw a lot of attention, particularly from the tiny people walking, toddling or riding in and out of the hospital doors.
The owners of the bikes, Harold Wilson and Bill Martin, are happy with the attention, giving smiles and friendly words of encouragement, but they and their fellow Arkansas Bikers for Children have given more than that to the many children who've gone in and out of the hospital over the past five years.
Last weekend, a procession of two- and and four-wheeled vehicles paraded from Burns Park in North Little Rock across the river to Arkansas Children's Hospital and presented it with a check for $45,300. With the check, the Arkansas Bikers for Children hit a milestone. Since its founding on March 2, 2012, it has donated more than $300,000 to the hospital.
"That's not too bad for 5 1/2 years," says Wilson, co-chairman of the organization.
All this work has earned the group special recognition this year. Arkansas Bikers for Children will be honored as Outstanding Volunteer Organization at the Association of Fundraising Professionals' National Philanthropy Day awards luncheon Nov. 16.
Over the years, the bikers have bought an adaptive tricycle and anti-gravity treadmills for the rehabilitation unit, beds for the neonatal intensive care unit, ventilators and a temperature management system. This year, their goal is to buy two extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) systems for the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit -- a Transonic Extracorporeal Life Support Assurance system that monitors and helps prevent harmful blood clots and an ECMO heater.
Arkansas Bikers for Children is made up of a core of about 22 board members who have been around from the start, when they left an existing organization to start their own group. "We have pretty much the same people that started this thing," Martin says.
Martin's children and grandchildren have been treated for minor problems at the hospital but otherwise, neither he nor Wilson has had a deep personal connection to Arkansas Children's Hospital. "That had no bearing on us doing this," Martin says.
Tiffany Black, development officer with the Arkansas Children's Hospital Foundation, coordinates donations from the group and has seen their efforts up close.
"From my perspective, [the] organization started with a heart for kids ... Arkansas Bikers for Children are longtime friends and supporters of Arkansas Children's Hospital. Thanks to their continued support, their funds are providing lifesaving equipment to our patients," Black says.
When the group was established, Martin says, there was some discussion about choosing St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis as the beneficiary. They opted for keeping their donations in state, where "we've got one of the best hospitals for children right here in Little Rock, Ark."
They are a 501(c)3, and the organization has "zero administrative costs," Martin points out. So, all of their donations go straight to the hospital.
Money comes through soliciting sponsorships and grants and through multiple activities throughout the year.
Their fundraising year starts with a golf tournament in early October. Then there's a trap shoot in February, another golf tournament and the Pipes and Tails crawfish boil in April. There's more golf in July and a Hot Springs rally in September.
The grand finale is the mid-September bike rally and ride from North Little Rock to the hospital, where the board presents the hospital with its annual check. The finale ride is open to all, motorcycle or no.
While the men say they're honored by the forthcoming philanthropy award, they admit they're not too familiar with it.
"We're not after honors or anything," Martin says. "We're just trying to help these children. It was a shock. I didn't know anything like this existed. It's all about the children. Honors don't mean nothing if it's not helping somebody."
"Which I think makes it even more well-deserved," Black says.
For Wilson and Martin, supporting the hospital has been a no-brainer.
"Take a tour of this hospital," Martin says. "You take one tour of this hospital, if you don't fall in love with it, something's wrong with you."
More information on Arkansas Bikers for Children is available through Martin at (501) 920-3830 or [email protected] or on the group's Facebook page.
High Profile on 09/24/2017