About the Nonprofit
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Founded in 2010, Bearings invites kids ages 6-17 to earn a bike of their own while developing hard skills, soft skills, and character strengths that can make a difference in future career success.
In 2008, Becky and Tim O’Mara moved into Adair Park, a historic neighborhood in Southwest Atlanta. Like many urban neighborhoods, Adair Park has faced the challenges of disinvestment and rising crime. Violence, drugs, and prostitution were so pervasive in the area, that families had lost use of the neighborhood’s namesake park and playground. Over time, Tim and Becky befriended many neighbors, including kids they encountered walking their dogs in the park. One day, Becky saw an opportunity to help a young person earn money for new tires for her bike. After a few weeks of doing chores around the yard, she had earned enough for new tires. Tim and Becky surprised her with a new bike as a reward for her hard work. Soon, word spread and more kids approached Becky and Tim to earn bikes. The O’Maras realized there were bikes rusting in garages all over Atlanta that could find new life in the hands of neighborhood youth. Believing in the grit and ambition of these kids, however, Tim and Becky also wanted them to bring something to the exchange. An idea was born: kids would be invited to earn donated bikes by picking up trash in Adair Park. Everyone won; neighbors were thrilled to see the community cleaned up; kids were thrilled to earn a bike. Not only that, but by giving back to their neighborhood, kids’ bonds were strengthened with their community.
As program participation grew and community development reduced the need for trash pick-up, earning activities evolved into structured learning activities focusing on technical and soft skills youth need for success in the 21st century workforce. In 2013, Bearings Bike Shop became a 501(c)3 nonprofit that invited kids to earn bikes of their own while teaching them the value of hard work, goal setting, and respect.
For 10 years, Bearings called home a small basement in an old automotive shop in Adair Park. Many days, it would be busting at the seams with kids trying to get in. In 2017, Bearings purchased 982 Murphy Avenue and began to make plans for the future. In 2020, after a successful capital campaign that garnered $2.7 Million from generous supporters across Atlanta, Bearings renovated and opened the first phase of the new Bearings complex, a 6,000 square foot Garage, the ideal place for all of Bearings youth programming. Today, Bearings Bike Works is a community hub serving 300 students annually, where all things bike are celebrated, kids are encouraged, and future paths are forged through hard work and dedication.
