Life and Cycles Foundation Inc

[WHO WE ARE] Life and Cycles Foundation is an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) public charity under 509(a)(2) in Connecticut. We connect motorcycle culture with community care; volunteers help kids and support first responders; we aim to leave positive interactions wherever we go. | [PROGRAMS] Smile Kits: comfort kits for children on stressful calls; typical kit includes small plush or toy car, crayons, mini coloring sheet, and a positive note or sticker; monthly restocks keep vehicles ready. Buddy Ride: family friendly charity ride uniting riders, families, and first responders to collect toys and Smile Kit items and fund program costs via registration and sponsorships. Toy Drives and Outreach: seasonal drives with business drop points; volunteers sort, pack, deliver; school and community visits with partner agencies promote safety and kindness. | [COMMUNITY NEED] Children who experience crashes, fires, and domestic disputes meet responders on very hard days. A simple comfort item with a calm interaction lowers anxiety, helps responders do their work, and builds trust. Many departments lack reliable kid focused materials for vehicles; we fill that gap with a fast, low cost program that is easy to use. | [WHO WE SERVE] Primary: children ages 2 to 12 who encounter law enforcement and EMS during emergencies. Secondary: their families and the first responders who serve them. Current focus: Connecticut starting with Hartford County, expanding as capacity grows. | [PLANNED IMPACT NEXT 12 MONTHS] 1,000 Smile Kits to 12 to 15 partner agencies; two Buddy Ride events with 600+ participants; 50 trained volunteers; 12 renewed or new agency agreements with regular restocks. | [HOW WE MEASURE] Distribution logs with date, kit count, incident context; quarterly responder feedback; post event surveys; a quarterly dashboard showing kits delivered, partners active, volunteer hours, and funds directed to program work. | [FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP] All volunteer organization. Donations support kit supplies, permits and safety, storage and transport, outreach, and compliance. We publish an annual budget, file Form 990 or 990 N, maintain a conflict of interest policy, and keep an engaged board. | [EQUITY ACCESS SAFEGUARDING] Family friendly public events; work with diverse departments; volunteers are never alone with children; no identifying info about children; materials available in multiple languages; reasonable accessibility accommodations. | [CORPORATE AND EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT] Sponsor a Department; On site Packing Event; Collection Drive; Team Ride or event support; Matching gifts and payroll giving including Benevity; In kind contributions such as plush, crayons, mini notebooks, drawstring bags, printing; Cause marketing for specific restocks or event needs. | [WHY PARTNER] Clear, tangible impact; positive connection to first responders and families; safe, repeatable activities for any team size; transparent costs and simple reporting. | [SUSTAINABILITY] Mix of individual gifts, sponsorships, ride registrations, and in kind support; recurring donors and sponsors enable monthly restocks; add regional coordinators and volunteer leads as partnerships grow while keeping overhead low. | [LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE] Board with president, secretary, treasurer; defined duties and term limits; no compensation; annual goals and budgets; quarterly program review; policies including conflict of interest and non discrimination; appropriate insurance and permits. | [YOUR SUPPORT MAKES POSSIBLE] A child receives a calming item; responders have a ready tool to de escalate and build trust; families experience responders as helpers; riders and neighbors give back together. | [HOW TO GET INVOLVED] Fund Smile Kit restocks for a town or department; schedule an on site employee packing event; place a collection bin; sponsor the next Buddy Ride; offer Toys, materials or printing; add us to matching and get involved with the buddy ride. Thanks for your time and thank you for your interest in helping our Foundation.