The Foundation for Life, Inc., a charitable organization supported by the employees of Barnum Financial Group, an office of MetLife, has donated bicycles and helmets to 50 children at the House of Hope Rhode Island and St. Mary’s Home for Children. The Bikes for Kids events both took place on Oct. 1. St. Mary’s Home for Children followed by the House of Hope. 

Barnum Financial Group employees raised the funds for the bikes and helmets. Each organization surprised the children with their bikes and helmets. The bikes will not only allow the children to get out into their communities but also provide a fun way to stay physically fit and healthy.

Paul Blanco, managing director of Barnum Financial Group and founder of the Foundation for Life, Inc., was introduced to Bikes for Kids by the founders of the Bikes for Kids program, Bill and Debbie Pollakov. Since 2007, the Foundation for Life, Inc., with the support of the Barnum Financial Group employees, has donated more than 1,500 bikes and helmets to underprivileged children throughout Connecticut, New York and Rhode Island. 

At Barnum Financial Group, we are committed to making a difference in the communities we serve,” Blanco said in a statement. “My wife Mindee and I started the Foundation for Life as an avenue through which we and our employees could improve the lives of children and families.”  

Barnum Financial Group, an Office of MetLife, provides a full range of investment and risk management products and services to over 220,000 clients, including individuals and their families, as well as small businesses, corporations, government entities, not-for-profit organizations and their employees. Offices are located in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island.