The Original Helping with Horsepower Bike Rebuild Program has launched again, this time honoring the past while empowering the Future with a Custom Harley-Davidson Road Glide Makeover!
– By #Abbott House
MITCHELL, SD - The original Helping With HorsepowerTM Bike Rebuild Program has returned to Abbott House in Mitchell, SD, this time with a legacy motorcycle that already has an amazing story and sparkling presence. The program provides hands-on problem solving skills for 40 Abbott House girls, ages 7- 17. Together they will re-design, repair, and customize a 2007 Harley-Davidson Road Glide that has been donated by influential ambassador for women in motorcycling, Diva Amy Skaling.
“'Diva Glide One' is an expression of the motorcycle life of a long time Helping with Horsepower supporter,” said Laura Klock, President and Founder of South Dakota non-profit, Helping with Horsepower. “Diva Amy has moved forward in her journey to a new motorcycle, but wanted to give back with an opportunity for Abbott House girls to be hands-on in a unique motorcycle makeover through our program.”
On Friday, March 17, 2023 at Abbott House, the girls were introduced to the program, met the motorcycle, and were given the homework of providing their design ideas to re-invent “Diva Glide One".
“The Helping with HorsepowerTM program is back and we are all very excited to start another project with Laura and her team,” said Eric Klooz, Director at Abbott House, Mitchell, SD. “It has been almost 2 years since we did a project so all of the girls will be new to it. As the girls learn the various types and uses of tools and how to remove motorcycle parts they also learn about perseverance, teamwork, design, and problem solving. It is truly amazing to see the pride, confidence and self-esteem generated by the program. The project is great for the young people we work with and it also raises awareness and much needed funding” Klooz said. “We are excited to be starting again!”
Once the makeover is complete, a special unveil will take place on August 8, 2023 at Sturgis Buffalo Chip Biker Belles event. “Working with Laura Klock as one of our Biker Belles founders and Diva Amy as our long standing Ambassador feels like coming home with Diva Glide One and Abbott House,” Toni Woodruff, Biker Belles Director shared. “We have been there since the beginning helping to create these amazing bikes while rebuilding lives through Laura’s curriculum and amazing partners. This bike is special, and it will be wonderful to watch it and those involved transform it. As we enter our 15th year of celebrating women in motorcycling, Biker Belles has become known as the Home for Women in Motorcycling at our annual Sturgis event. This year we continue our mission of raising funds for local charities, while continuing to honor our past and empower our future, encouraging and riding together."
Someone will WIN this motorcycle. The project is also a fundraiser for Abbott House and tickets will be sold for the motorcycle while the story of the amazing work the girls performed hands-on is told. Drawing will be held at a special event to be determined. Watch for future announcements!
“Industry leading companies join us as we begin the makeover, providing parts, time and talents to help the girls discover and learn hands-on. We couldn’t do any of these projects without all of the amazing support we receive,” Laura Klock said. “We can’t wait to tell you more!”
About Abbott House:
Abbott House is a private charity that provides intensive residential treatment, therapeutic foster care and independent living services to young people up to 21 years of age. Abbott House facilities are located in Mitchell and Rapid City, South Dakota. The Abbott House is truly dedicated to providing services to South Dakota children and families that promote personal development and foster responsible behaviors with others.
About Helping with Horsepower Bike Rebuild Program:
The HWH Bike Rebuild Program began in 2011 by President and Founder of HWH, Laura Klock, wrote a curriculum because of her desire to share motorcycles as an effective tool to teach life lessons to youth ages 7-17 in residential treatment. The Abbott House in Mitchell, South Dakota, was the first location, and the program was so successful that 5 projects, which completed 6 magazine worthy custom motorcycles hands-on in the classroom with youth in care, had a significant financial impact from the bike raffles for the Abbott House, and produced measurable results in personal growth and reduced critical incidents while youth were participating. Inquiries came in so Laura taught and licensed the curriculum to other centers. At its peak, there were as many as eight Helping with Horsepower Bike Rebuild Programs being facilitated at residential treatment centers across the US, including the Omaha Home for Boys in Nebraska, AND Pine Bush High School in New York where youth customized a Victory race bike to set records at the Bonneville Salt Flats!
For more information contact Virginia Wishard Lambert at the Abbott House at 605.996.2486 or Laura Klock at Helping With Horsepower at 605.999.9824.
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