As part of a new initiative, the River Valley Region of CLA (formerly CliftonLarsonAllen) donated 11 bikes to the Mower and Freeborn County chapter of Toys for Tots Friday morning.

The initiative, called the Promise Season, is designed to give back to the communities of which CLA is a part. The bikes donated to Toys for Tots Friday was a collective effort by the 10 offices making up the River Valley Region which includes southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

“This year, the nationwide firm which includes 1,500 employees are working on expanding on branding and as a part of that came the Promise Season,” said River Valley Region Marketing Coordinator Leah Cochran.”It’s a way to show our gratitude.”

Nationwide, 200 bikes are being given away to kids this holiday season through the initiative. Promise Season has been running since Nov. 1 and will continue through the month of December.

Tim Staver, coordinator for the Mower and Freeborn County Toys for Tots, said it’s donations like this that help in their own mission to make sure less fortunate children are getting the chance to unwrap a toy at Christmas.

“This is great and definitely needed,” Staver said. “At the end of the year we have to purchase. To have a company (like CLA) donate these bikes is huge.”

Staver said that last year 693 kids were served by Toys for Tots while the numbers are still coming in, he estimates as many as 1,000 kids could be served this year.

Cochran said that this is just a way for two groups to come together to help their neighbors.

“We’re just trying to celebrate the holiday season,” she said. “We’re grateful for all of our employees that give back what they can with the time we have.”