“I just wanted to say thank you. I had told [my mentee] that I have been thinking since last year when he graduated from Lincoln HS, that I had not given him anything to celebrate or congratulate him for graduating, being awarded scholarship at the Palmer Luncheon and also being accepted and attending UW. I could have given him a tennis racket, sweat bands for tennis, t-shirt, etc, but those type of gifts I feel looking back, would have been insignificant compared to seeing his response when I handed him a brand new bicycle of his own. One thing that I found out during our lunch conversation is that [my mentee] told me he had never learned how to ride a bike, which is basically saying that he never even owned his own bicycle. I have to say that, that really hit hard with me thinking that he was never given that opportunity. He could not believe his eyes and was in shock. I thank you both for allowing me to give him a gift that I know he will appreciate and allow [my mentee’s] doors to be opened and can explore Seattle much more than taking just a bus.”