Kara Griffith is an exercise physiologist, the Family Health West Wellness Supervisor, a mom, wife, and an all around good human. Witnessing a young girl, elementary school age, at a Fruita community bike park last summer without a bike helmet had Kara recalling some days in her past when she worked at a rehabilitation facility with people who had brain injuries.
“I worked with people who sustained head injuries from something like a short ride down the block to higher-risk activities like mountain biking or rock climbing,” Kara said. “Their lives were forever changed, and seeing that firsthand had a big impact on me.”
That single interaction for Kara sparked an idea that caught fire! For the second year in a row, Family Health West partnered with the City of Fruita to offer and provide free bike helmets to local children. ImageNet Consulting and ProSpace Interiors recently found the same passion around this idea and have contributed financially to this joint project to make 2025 even more successful.
Dave Huerkamp, President of ProSpace Interiors, says the culture of ProSpace makes them big believers in giving back to the community. Jared Meier, Group Solutions Manager for ImageNet Consulting, echoed much of the same.
“This was a great opportunity to double our impact with the matching donation from ImageNet here in Grand Junction,” Dave said. “Plus, Family Health West is an awesome asset to the Fruita community, so we are happy to support them in their efforts to further youth safety.”
“This was an easy project to back for us,” Jared said. “ImageNet Consulting staff are honored to support programs that provide both active and fun opportunities for youth in the Grand Valley. Adding the safety element stood out as an even better opportunity for us.”
We believe in the mission of Family Health West, and as a business of similar community-mindedness, we are always looking for ways to positively impact our friends and neighbors, Jared elaborated.
The initial partnership with the City of Fruita was a natural fit, Marc Mancuso, Parks and Recreation Director, City of Fruita, said. Kara’s heart for the idea was something they could expand on, something they were already doing.
“Our Youth Scholarship Golf Tournament has traditionally funded program and activity scholarships, but we saw this as another meaningful way to support the youth in our community,” Marc said. “Since then, we’ve received generous support from the Western Colorado Community Foundation and, most recently, the FHW Foundation. This program is ongoing, and we anticipate a continued need for helmets as kids grow, experience falls, or as more families learn about the opportunity.”
The City of Fruita distributes the helmets through their community center, expanding the options and availability considerably after partnering with Family Health West and now adding in donated dollars from local businesses.
Marc went on to say, Fruita intentionally purchases helmets that are free from prominent logos or designs, so children can wear them without feeling labeled.
“Our goal is for every kid to feel confident, safe, and included,” Marc said. “We’ll continue to provide a variety of current, high-quality helmets in new colors and styles to meet safety standards and personal preferences.”
These generous donation makes it possible for our community to significantly decrease the risk of
life-altering head injury, Kara said. Through generously donated funds, the City of Fruita is able to purchase
higher-quality helmets with a variety of common designs, so any person receiving a free helmet will not
stand out. The fun designs encourage kids to wear their helmets for every ride. This can have a positive
ripple effect in our community for years to come.
“You all have my sincerest gratitude,” Kara said.
Partnering with the City of Fruita to distribute the helmets is working well and is a natural point of contact at the Fruita Community Center. Some final tips for anyone wearing and using a bike helmet:
- Helmets should be replaced about every 3 to 5 years, despite appearance – even if they look
brand new. Materials can break down and be less effective, especially in a crash situation. - Helmets should be replaced after a significant crash, even if damage is not obvious.
- Helmets should fit and be worn properly for best outcomes – see this guide https://www.nhtsa.gov/ sites/nhtsa.gov/files/8019_fitting-a-helmet.pdf
- Adults – please wear your helmet for every ride, too, even the “just down the block”. You are setting an example for our youth, and we need you to be safe as well. Unexpected things can happen. We want to keep doing the things we love, and wearing a helmet is extra insurance!
Donations are still being accepted for bike helmets. If you are inspired to give, a tax-deductible donation can be made to the Family Health West Foundation by visiting https://fhw.org/foundation/.
