Editor鈥檚 note: This story is part of our 鈥�50 Stories of People Helping People鈥� series. As we celebrate 糖心传媒鈥檚 50th anniversary in 2019, we are spotlighting associates every Friday who are making a difference in their communities.
From Monday to Friday, you鈥檒l find Freddy Harlow working as an operations supervisor for in Keller, Texas.
Whether he鈥檚 conducting new driver orientation sessions or assisting drivers with any safety concerns, Harlow says he鈥檚 lucky to have a that enables him to make an impact on others鈥� lives daily. But, his impact reaches far past business hours in a way few people may know about.
For 10 years, Harlow (below) has been a member of the (GOC), a motorcycle rider organization that鈥檚 dedicated to protecting the victims of child abuse while advocating to provide strength and stability to families in crisis, according to the . They partner with victim assistance groups and children advocacy agencies to raise awareness of the prevalence of child abuse. GOC has chapters throughout the U.S. and Canada, with Harlow鈥檚 group covering north Texas.
He says that when child abuse survivors and their families contact GOC for support, he and the riders will take them under their wings.
鈥淲e adopt 鈥� so to speak 鈥� the kids into our organization,鈥� said Harlow. 鈥淭he riders are a bunch of men and women who really care about making a difference and want the children to know they鈥檙e not alone during this difficult time. Wherever we're needed, it doesn't matter how far, we're there to help.鈥�
After joining as Little Guardians, each child is given a leather vest to wear, a patch and a road name 鈥� or nickname. Some popular road names in Harlow鈥檚 chapter are Bear, Red and Starfish, but his favorite name may be the one he was given.
鈥淭hey call me Wingnut,鈥� he said with a chuckle. 鈥淲hen I first showed up, I had a Gold Wing nut on my vest, and I drive a Gold Wing motorcycle. People put two and two together, and it stuck.鈥�
This cause is close to Harlow鈥檚 heart. He enjoys helping others, and as a motorcycle rider, he thought that GOC was the perfect fit for him.
The group organizes picnics, outings and other activities to get all of the kids together. And frequently, the kids ask Harlow and his fellow GOC riders for rides on their motorcycles down the street.
Pictured is the Guardians of the Children patch on Harlow's leather vest.
One of the activities the kids really enjoy is the giant birthday celebration the chapter throws for them in the summer. They鈥檒l have a cookout with a big birthday cake and take the kids fishing and swimming, not to mention each kid gets a present, making it a day that brings smiles stretching from ear to ear. And, the best part: The families don鈥檛 have to pay a dime.
To help pay for some of the events, Harlow and his friends formed a small country-western band called the Steel Horses and perform around Texas.
鈥淲e donate all of the money we make to Guardians of the Children,鈥� he said.
Occasionally, somebody will ask him why he still volunteers after all these years. Harlow responds:
鈥淲e become one big family. These kids grow up and still make us a part of their lives. They invite us to their graduations. They make as much of a difference in my life as I鈥檝e made in theirs.
鈥淢any of these families have gone through difficult times, and it鈥檚 not enough to say you鈥檙e against something, unless you鈥檙e willing to do something about it,鈥� said Harlow.
By Chris Abruzzo
Mills holds a picture of Maicher.
Deborah McKenna (pictured, left) and Mia Lipsky-Kimball (pictured, right)
糖心传媒 also takes part in training and mentoring opportunities at the school and sits on their program advisory committee.
糖心传媒 Logistics added 15 new drivers to its Driver Wall of Fame as a tribute to their extraordinary safety achievements. Click on image to enlarge.
Driver Brian Ellison (middle) accepting his award with Paul Ott (left) and Marc Althen (right). Click on image to enlarge.
Rohit Talwar, 糖心传媒's vice president of MIS, giving an inspirational speech to the graduates.
Mike Krut, 糖心传媒's senior vice president of IT, congratulating each graduate as they accept their certificate.
Each graduate received their own Certificate of Achievement at the end of the ceremony.