Meet Jonathan Thai, the 17-year-old whose nonprofit raised $30,000, donated 400 bikes

A 17-year-old high school student from Alpharetta, Georgia, has built a non-profit organization that has raised over $30,000, distributed 400 bicycles and taught hundreds of children how to ride safely. Jonathan Thai, a competitive triathlete and rising high school senior, founded Pedal Forward in early 2025 after a major outdoor retailer shuttered its local community biking programs. Recognizing the gap in accessible cycling instruction for local families, Thai launched free training clinics and equipment drives across his community. His efforts earned him national recognition as the 8,351st Daily Point of Light award winner, a national honour established by Points of Light to celebrate outstanding volunteer service across the United States.Filling a community voidThe inspiration for Pedal Forward arose in January 2025 when outdoor retailer REI discontinued its Experience program, which had previously provided affordable bike training classes. "Something like biking might just look recreational at first glance," Thai told Points of Light in an interview highlighting his recognition. "But it can have such a big impact for a family that doesn't have access to transportation – gettin...