CRYSTAL LAKE – Having a bicycle ranks among the most enduring pleasures of childhood with the fun, freedom and pride of ownership. Through the Life Cycles program created by Odyssey Teams, a recognized pioneer and leader in the team-building industry, 32 bikes were assembled by Centegra Health System leaders and donated to McHenry County children May 19.
As they built the free bikes, participants in the program also built insight, teamwork, an appreciation for listening and intelligent risk taking, and a commitment to service. Participants learned that attentiveness, dedication and concern are qualities they can bring to their work and their customers, their lives and their communities.
“We help people tap into their brains, their hands and their hearts,” said Bill John, president and co-founder of Odyssey Teams, whose first bike was a red Schwinn Stingray. “When you give training an emotional content, it becomes more lasting and valuable. The activity alone can’t be the point; you have to produce something of value.”
Watch the Video
The 155 Centegra participants didn’t know they were building bikes for deserving kids until the end of the program. At the beginning, they thought they were simply engaging in another teamwork exercise.
“This element of surprise — the demonstration that good work creates unexpected benefits — is one of the most powerful lessons of team-building,” said Centegra Health System President and CEO Michael S. Eesley. “Through the 'Life Cycle' of creating something valuable and passing it on, our team experienced firsthand the influence their actions, integrity, attention and intention have on their work. They recognized their impact on the lives of their co-workers, patients and community members. They also discovered how much they get in return from the simple act of giving.”
The bikes were assembled during the exercise and were donated to 32 area children through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and the Girls on the Run program, both in McHenry County.
Dena Hernandez, marketing and fund-raising coordinator for Big Brothers Big Sisters said, “This is an amazing gesture by Centegra Health System. “The children in our program need to know that community members care about their health and well-being. This donation is a perfect example of the ripple effect that comes from paying it forward and is a great lesson for them to learn.”
Laurie Dayon, Executive Director of Girls on the Run said, “Seeing the faces of the kids, and the adults too, when they received the bikes was priceless. This generous donation is something they will never forget.”