Ron Manganiello, Founding Volunteer of Bike Recycle Vermont (BRV) in Burlington, will be honored as “an ordinary citizen accomplishing extraordinary things” on the nationally-acclaimed eTown broadcast airing the week of January 18th.
Over the past eight years, and with an investment of more than 7,000 hours, Manganiello has accomplished an ambitious goal: To make sure that anyone who wanted a bicycle, but couldn’t afford one, had access to a safe, low-cost option.
Manganiello was nominated for eTown’s prestigious e-Chievement Award by friend and long-time listener Janice Russotti, who “knew [eTown] would just love him.”
“Ron represents everything the e-Chievement Award celebrates,” says Russotti. “He’s a generous man who’s always thinking of ways to help those less fortunate. What he’s created with Bike Recycle Vermont—as a volunteer—is truly extraordinary.”
In 2004, Manganiello had no grand plan to change the world. Having recently retired from his work as an energy auditor, he did want to give back to his community—but never imagined that fulfilling a simple request from a friend, to help collect a few bikes for a Somali refugee family, would lead him to his next "career" as Founding Volunteer of BRV. Since then, he has built the organization from humble beginnings into a vital social service provider for thousands of low- and no-income Vermonters. To date, BRV has collected, refurbished, and redistributed more than 4,000 bikes to the area’s New American population, at-risk youth, the homeless, and others unable to afford a car.
During this time, under Manganiello’s guidance, BRV has also expanded its core service to include initiatives such as the Youth Training Program—which teaches practical skills, in a natural mentoring environment, to students with a range of challenges. Beginning in 2012, the BRV Bike Mechanics’ Institute will provide opportunities for un- and underemployed young adults to learn both a marketable skill set, and the necessary “soft skills” that help define job readiness. And, Manganiello’s vision for sustainability also helped inspire the creation of Bike Recycle Designs late last year. Bike Recycle Designs reclaims spokes, tires, inner tubes and other parts from unusable bikes, and transforms them into “wearable art”— proceeds from the sales of which are reinvested back into Bike Recycle Vermont.
Remarkably, Manganiello has accomplished all of this without being paid.
“He’s truly a man motivated by passion, and his energy is boundless,” says Russotti. “He leads by example and inspires everyone around him to achieve great things. Our community is a better place because of Ron, and I hope he’s part of Bike Recycle Vermont for years to come.”
Hassan, a Burlington middle-school student, agrees. “I know a whole lot of people who have bicycles who would not have them if it weren’t for [Mr. Manganiello].”
Manganiello’s e-Chievement Award will be presented during eTown’s broadcast airing the week of January 18th. Many Vermont listeners can tune into The Point (pointfm.com), either over the air or streaming on the web, to hear the broadcast—which will air on Sunday, January 22 at 10am. Vermonters outside Bike Recycle Vermont, a program of Local Motion, collects used bicycles destined for the landfill, refurbishes them, and sells them at nominal cost to eligible community members. By providing people with transportation, BRV opens doors, enriches lives and expands opportunities. Because bicycles are a healthy, non-polluting way to get to work, run errands, and recreate, BRV actively promotes a healthy community and a healthy environment. To learn more about BRV and Bike Recycle Designs—which supports Bike Recycle Vermont through the design and sale of “wearable art” fashioned from bike spokes, tires, inner tubes and other parts—please visit www.localmotion.org/bikerecycle.
Local Motion is a member-supported nonprofit organization promoting people-powered transportation and recreation for healthy and sustainable Vermont communities. Since 1999, Local Motion has been improving personal health—and the local economy—through regional trail development, promoting walkable communities, and fostering active lifestyles. More than 1,000 members, hundreds of volunteers, and the philanthropic support of individuals, foundations, and the local business community make our work possible. For more information, please visit www.localmotion.org.
Founded in 1991, eTown is a nationally-syndicated radio show heard weekly on over 300 public, community and commercial stations across North America and via podcast. eTown is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 corporation whose mission is to educate, entertain and inspire a diverse audience, through music and conversation, to create a socially responsible and environmentally sustainable world. Every eTown show is taped in front of a live audience, and features performances from many of today’s top musical artists as well as thought-provoking interviews and the presentation of the listener-nominated E-Chievement Award recognizing everyday people who have made a difference in their community or beyond. Founders Nick Forster, of the legendary bluegrass band Hot Rize fame, and his wife, singer/actress Helen Forster host the show. For more information, visit www.etown.org.
One of the show's most popular segments is the E-Chievement Award. Listeners from around the country send in nominations of remarkable individuals who are working hard to make a positive difference in their communities and beyond. From massive river clean-ups to programs that help the homeless, from neighborhood activists to national and international social and environmental organizations, eTown takes pride in celebrating the success stories of ordinary citizens accomplishing extraordinary things. To learn more about the E-Chievement Award, visit www.etown.org.
