Key Takeaways
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High school triathlete Jonathan Thai founded the Pedal Forward Foundation to provide bicycles, gear, and free riding clinics to low-income families.
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The initiative has raised over $30,000, distributed 500 helmets, secured 400 bicycles, and hosted numerous community safety workshops.
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Pedal Forward has expanded with chapters in New York and Tennessee, with plans underway for an international charity cycling trip to Vietnam.
Empowering communities through the life-changing power of cycling
For many, riding a bicycle is a simple childhood pastime, but for 17-year-old high school triathlete Jonathan Thai, two wheels can provide a vital pathway to opportunity and independence. Recognizing that reliable transportation is a significant barrier for many families, the Alpharetta, Georgia, resident founded the Pedal Forward Foundation to ensure that every child and parent has access to a bicycle and the skills to ride safely.
Thai was inspired to take action after a local outdoor retail store closed its community bike-riding workshop. Drawing additional motivation from his parents’ experiences growing up in rural, post-war Vietnam, Thai saw firsthand that bicycles serve as crucial tools for accessing school, work, and essential groceries rather than just recreational gear.
Through determination and strong grassroots support, the young athlete has raised more than $30,000. His foundation has secured 400 donated bicycles, handed out 500 safety helmets, and organized over a dozen free community clinics. These interactive workshops teach 30 to 45 children per session, beginning with basic balance and training wheels before guiding students through advanced maneuvers, braking, and traffic navigation.
The nonprofit’s success has been bolstered by partnerships with organizations including the YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and local cycling charities. What began as a local effort in Georgia has since expanded to new chapters in New York and Tennessee. Looking to the future, the foundation is preparing to go international, organizing a humanitarian charity and cycling trip to Vietnam to bring the same empowerment back to Thai’s family roots.
