Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

In spirit of Cascade, Rivera donates bicycle to neighbor in need

Photos and story by James Hill

Rick Rivera won last month’s bicycle raffle at the Cascade Campus to benefit the PCC Foundation. But it was actually a neighbor’s child that was the real winner.

Rivera, a past winner of a Spirit Award through the City of Portland for his service to the community, was awarded the bike and quickly gave it to a neighorhood child in need. The eight-year PCC public safety veteran and resident of north Portland knew the family next door didn’t have the money to buy bikes for their children. So, Rivera, who didn’t need the bike anyway, made sure it got to somebody who did.

“The neighbor’s kid really came to mind,” Rivera said. “He’s a really nice kid. The family isn’t well off, but the kids are always polite and always come over to ask if they can play with my dog. I wanted to give it to somebody who would use it.”

The raffle was spearheaded by James Bowles, trainer education specialist, who spent every day soliciting staff and students to buy the tickets. The bicycle raffle ticket sales of $574 have been matched by the donor of the bicycle. All proceeds will go to the 2006 PCC 1000 Foundation Campaign from Cascade Campus.

“I felt for James Bowles,” Rivera remembered. “James was out in the sun and the cold and rain, determined to sell those tickets. I just had to buy some.”

Rivera says he enjoys his work at Cascade, mainly for the friendly nature of the staff and faculty. He says he still remembers the first day on the job at the campus and knew immediately Cascade was the place for him.

“I met a lot of people on my first day,” he recalled. “The next day many were calling me by my first name. That never happens. It’s a family-type of atmosphere here.”