Yokohama Tire Corporation‘s recent national sales meeting in Newport Beach, California, had a surprise ending: a donation to Orange County’s Boys & Girls Club consisting of bicycles assembled by Yokohama’s executives, sales teams and corporate employees.   

The 20-inch Huffy bikes were part of a team-building exercise that capped a four-day event at the Fairmont Newport Beach. Twelve Yokohama teams assembled the bikes from scratch and were awarded points and medals based on their sales presentations to a panel. The bikes were then going to be given to Boys & Girls Club, but to the surprise of the teams, the children made a surprise visit to the event and received their bikes in person. They also were given backpacks filled with school supplies.

“It was really an emotional moment for everyone,” said Shinichi Takimoto, president of Yokohama Tire Corp. “A new bike means a lot to kids, including a newfound sense of freedom. These children from the Boys & Girls Club never had one before so it was very impactful for Yokohama to see them get their very first bicycle. The kids loved the fact that they got to meet the builders and will always associate them with their new bike.”