Builders Masonic Lodge

Builders Lodge Bikes for Books Program was formed to promote reading in some of the poorest schools in Tucson. The purpose is to engage children in the 4th and 5th grades to read 10 chapter books a semester. We work with Rivera School and Gallego School in the Sunnyside School District and Myer Ganoung in the Tucson School District.

This program started many years ago with the leadership of Brother Tom Royce. We have fund raisers during the year to raise money to buy the bicycles and helmets. We present a boys bike and a girls bike with helmets each semester to the three schools. Kids that qualify have a chance to win by having their name drawn by their teacher. We have well over 100 children qualify each semester.

I always tell them know that they are all winners because they qualified to win a bike. It is very rewarding for me to present the bikes to a child who otherwise might not be able to have a bicycle.

Andrew Kunsberg, Bikes for Books Program Coordinator