Blue 42! Blue 42! Set… hut!

OK, so there was no actual football, but getting to build bikes for low-income children with members of the San Francisco 49ers was just as cool. As part of Yahoo!’s Purple Acts of Kindness, a monthly program that surprises and delights our local community with random acts of generosity, a group of Yahoos teamed together with the 49ers and TurningWheels for Kids this week to help build 49 bikes for boys and 49 bikes for girls. The bikes will be given to underprivileged children in San Jose, Calif., to enjoy during the holidays.

I was one of the lucky few who volunteered quickly enough before spots filled. Being an avid 49er fan, the event proved to be a great way to give back to the community while getting a chance to meet some of the players I’ve watched play on the gridiron. Upon arriving at the 49ers’ Santa Clara training facility, I was fortunate enough to be paired with Shaun Hill, the team’s starting quarterback. Together, we built 2 bikes –- 1 for a smaller boy and 1 for an older boy. Shaun focused on attaching wheels and brakes, while I worked with the handlebars.

In between interviews with the numerous camera crews roaming the area, I found myself chatting with a very down-to-earth, Kansas-bred guy. We talked about our similar experiences attending Kansas University’s summer basketball camp and meeting Coach Roy Williams. I also mentioned that his performance in the 49ers’ previous game had vaulted my fantasy football team to the playoffs, which he had a chuckle at. Unlike other events I’ve been to with professional athletes, Shaun was in no hurry to bolt after a few pictures. Rather, he spent time with me to make sure the bikes were put together well. We not only did this to build a good-looking bike, but more importantly, we wanted to build a safe bike that a child could enjoy for years to come.

Overall, participating in the bike build and watching Yahoos and 49ers work side-by-side to do something good for the community gave me a great feeling. In a season that often emphasizes materialism, it was wonderful to see people giving back to the community and doing something positive. Given the ever-worsening economic atmosphere, I know that the bikes we built will go a long way towards making a child’s holiday season a bit more joyful. That alone made the event a rousing success.

Kenny Liao
Corporate Strategy Analyst, Yahoo! Corporate Development

Photo from Yahoo! for Good. Additional photos found here.