Positive Spin is an exciting health, wellness, and mentoring program offered by the MGR Foundation for Pittsburgh's high school youth. During this program we intend to break down the barriers of unhealthy life-styles, lack of positive adult role models, and neighborhood seclusion. The following three program components were specially designed to meet the pressing needs of Pittsburgh's urban youth.

1. Mentoring
 Students will be paired in a one-to-one mentoring relationship with an adult cyclist. In conjunction with the Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern PA, these caring mentors will be trained and make a commitment to cycle with the students at least once a week.

2. Health, Nutrition, and Fitness
 Throughout the year, students will participate in workshops related to health, nutrition, and fitness. This will include exploring how exercise helps to maintain physical and mental health, and ways to improve eating habits and nutrition.

3. City Access
 The MGR Foundation has partnered with Bike Pittsburgh to teach students bike safety skills and how to use cycling as an alternative form of urban transportation.

High school students will be paired with adult mentors and given bicycles. Once a week, students will participate in a workshop centered on topical issues such as bike safety and maintenance, health and nutrition, and the importance of exercise. The real fun begins when together, student and mentors, take to the streets of Pittsburgh for the weekly urban ride experience. The pairs will safely ride from their local high school to a specified city destination, exploring the great assets our city has to offer young people. Whether riding to the Warhol Museum or to the campus of one of Pittsburgh's exceptional universities, the mentor pair will experience the destination together as they build new relationships. As a culminating event, the students and mentors will participate in a cyclo-tour, biking over 100 miles in a single weekend.

At the completion of this program, youth will

  • Increase their frequency of exercise.
  • Understand how to make healthy life-style choices.
  • Demonstrate the ability to safely navigate the city on a bicycle.
  • Value cycling as a plausible form of transportation.
  • Improve self esteem and confidence through meaningful relationships with caring role models.

To become a mentor, volunteer, or sponsor, click here.