NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A West Hartford foundation’s latest act of generosity brought smiles to the faces of several dozen children and teenagers at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater New Haven.
The David and Sherry Cordani Family Foundation recently donated new bicycles and helmets to nearly 40 youths who are members of the Boys & Girls Clubs in the area.
According to a release from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater New Haven, the gift was part of a larger effort by The Cigna Group to partner with local Boys & Girls Clubs to improve the “health and vitality” of kids and teens throughout the state.
The youngsters who received the new bikes and helmets participate in the club’s summer camp program. The release says the bikes were purchased from a local bike shop and delivered to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater New Haven’s gymnasium.
In the gym, the children and teens who received the equipment were able to end the summer on a high note, going home with a fun way to travel to friends’ houses, places of employment or other adventures, the release says.
“It was so heartwarming to see all the kids’ smiles and faces as they got their new bikes and tested them out around the gym. It was truly a highlight of their summer,” Jeff Pytlak, interim executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater New Haven, said in the release.
Pytlak added that the bikes will be a source of enjoyment and empowerment for club members for many years.
“We are grateful to the David and Sherry Cordani Family Foundation and The Cigna Group for their support in making a difference for New Haven youth,” Pytlak said in the release.
According to the Boys & Girls Clubs, research reveals there has been a 20% decline in the number of kids who ride bikes over the past 20 years. The release says that biking not only helps improve fitness and lowers the risk of chronic illness, but it can strengthen mental health by allowing youths to release endorphins that reduce stress, anxiety and depression.
The club cites new research from The Cigna Group, which shows that 47% of parents surveyed said their teen is experiencing mental health challenges such as anxiety or depression.
Throughout the summer, both The Cigna Group and the David and Sherry Cordani Foundation have partnered with Boys & Girls Clubs across Connecticut, including those in Waterbury and Hartford, to donate bikes and helmets to children and teens to promote physical activity and social connection.
The Cigna Group is a global health company that maintains sales capabilities in over 30 countries and jurisdictions and has more than 186 million customer relationships around the world, the release says.
Little information is available online regarding the David and Sherry Cordani Family Foundation's origins, but it is clear that the foundation is going above and beyond to make an impact in the local community.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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