Biking is not only a quintessential activity of childhood, but can also help children form good habits of healthy activity that will last them their lifetime. To help children in Eagan, MN, 300 Thomson Reuters employees volunteered in partnership with the local YMCA to assemble 100 bikes. These bikes will go through volunteers at the YMCA who have worked with children ages 4 to 10 who need bikes.

Eric Laughlin, managing director of Corporate Counsel at Thomson Reuters, felt a personal connection to the event and was excited to have been involved. “When I was a kid my bike was my passport to see friends and explore,” he reflected. “It’s hard to imagine being a kid in summertime without a bike, so it was awesome for Thomson Reuters to bring some summertime fun to our community. I love that Thomson Reuters not only makes these types of opportunities available, but supports them through our paid volunteer time program.”

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Eric Laughlin, managing director of Corporate Counsel (far right), poses with his team and their finished bike.

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Mike Suchsland, president of Legal, tightens the handlebars on a bike with another employee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The event started at 10 a.m. on Thursday with clear, sunny weather, and employees were excited to be outside getting involved with the community. The project, part of an ongoing community giving and employee volunteer program, included help from leaders within the organization like Rick King, COO of Technology, and Mike Suchsland, president of Legal. King commented, “Thomson Reuters does a lot of good things for the community, and we’re very proud of it. Our employees are very proud of what we do, and we love to give back to the community. This is just one example of what our 7,500 people across the campus do every day.”

Volunteers from the YMCA were also on the Eagan campus, helping and talking with Thomson Reuters employees. Many commented about how excited they were about the event, and many personally knew the children who would receive the bikes.

The day ended with high-fives shared amongst team members, congratulatory hugs and handshakes for hard work well done, and a short game of volleyball before a group picture. Ultimately, employees walked away proud of their work, excited to be getting involved with their community, and looking forward to more opportunities to volunteer in the future.

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One hundred bikes were built for girls and boys ages 4 to 10.

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