On Friday, June 4, Aventon, a Southern California-based bike retailer and manufacturer, donated five ebikes and eight scooters to select local families who are currently receiving care at CHOC (Children’s Healthcare of Orange County) and the Thompson Autism Center.
This special event celebrated families caring for children on the spectrum. During the event, Aventon also presented a $40,000 check to the Thompson Autism Center. The company raised the money by setting aside a percentage of online sales during April’s Autism Awareness month. To make this delivery in person, they delayed the presentation until it was safe for all involved to gather.
“We are so proud to be able to make this impactful donation to the Thompson Autism Center and to have a chance to raise the spirits of special families right here in Southern California,” said Adele Nasr, Aventon’s Chief Marketing Officer. “My son is on the autism spectrum, so this is personal for me. It’s exciting to be able to make a difference.”
The Thompson Autism Center opened at the beginning of 2020 and quickly transitioned to strict COVID-19 restrictions which limited interaction with families. The center is located on the main campus of CHOC and offers a wide variety of resources from diagnosis to counseling.
“I nearly cried when I got the call,” said Yarley Mendoza, the mother of one of the patients who is receiving an ebike donation. “My son has had a tough time with life so far. He doesn’t really understand that good things can happen. This is such a good thing, and it will show him that people really do care.”
“We cannot thank Aventon enough for this generous donation,” said Colleen Torres, CHOC Assistant Director of Corporate Philanthropy. “This will help our families in ways we can’t even begin to describe.”
