Paving the Way

A Message from Rebecca

I can’t believe December is in full swing. This year has certainly flown by! And, we want to take a moment to toast you — our volunteers, sponsors, donors, referrers, parents and friends — for an extraordinary 2025. Thank you for a year of milestones and magic. You showed up, cheered loud, rolled up your sleeves and proved once again that when a community rallies around kids, miracles move on wheels.

I am proud to report that 93 kids are now on the move, thanks to 91 custom electric cars and hundreds of assistive devices built specifically for their needs in 2025. Every car represents a breakthrough — a child who can now chase siblings, play tag with friends, explore the world independently and simply be a kid.

And we couldn’t do it without you. Our build and delivery season was powered by nearly 300 volunteers — makers, engineers, software pros, students, retirees and first-timers who came together to give kids the power to play. And my favorite part … the cheering section of family and friends who celebrated the moment their child took his or her first ride.

From our All Abilities Trunk or Treat to the KC Exotics Car Show, from Summer Delivery Days to Wheels & Wishes, and from weekly meetings to weekend build events — 2025 proved that, together, we are making a difference.

And we aren’t slowing down.

For our 2026 build season, our Invent for Good teams are dreaming up new innovations to make mobility magic even more accessible. Our Design Team is managing our shift to a new base car, and our Star Shot initiative is officially underway, aiming to serve even more kids with a whole new generation of vehicles.

Simply put, we are busy, and we are loving it.

As we look forward, our gratitude only grows. Thank you for helping make 2025 unforgettable. Because of you, kids across our region, and beyond, are moving toward independence — one car, one device and one smile at a time.

And there’s more coming…

Our annual Yearbook — a full look at the people, moments and milestones that shaped our year — will be ready in the next few months, and we can’t wait to share it with you.

In the meantime, enjoy a sneak peek of just how our community came together for our kids. Click here for a short recap of all the hard work and dedication that went into 2025. A one-minute video can’t begin to capture all the joy of this amazing year… but it is sure to bring a smile.

Thank you for being a driving force!
Rebecca Kidwell

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Dreams on the Go

Brooklyn’s Big Adventure

When Brooklyn was a baby, her parents found a small lump on her neck and assumed it was nothing serious. But doctors soon discovered the truth was far more complicated: a tumor was cutting off Brooklyn’s airway. During surgery to remove it, a severe hemorrhage occurred. Brooklyn suffered a stroke, and the medical complications that followed changed her life forever.

The pain Brooklyn faces every day is impossible to imagine — pain no child should ever have to endure. She constantly battles dizziness, balance and depth-perception challenges, and weakness on her right side. She now uses a wheelchair and relies on a tracheostomy and an oxygen tank.

“Brooklyn is too big for most toy cars, but a Geeks for Kids car would allow her to have a fun time outside again,” her mom shared in her application. “She could go on walks with friends and family while having some independence.”

Last year, Brooklyn received an early Christmas gift. On Delivery Day, Brooklyn’s family arrived exhausted after a long drive to our workshop. Brooklyn had just been discharged from the hospital, and we weren’t sure she would have the energy to explore her new ride.

But we were very wrong.

From the moment she arrived, Brooklyn started clapping and grinning. As we explained the car’s features to her family, she quickly took the wheel — ready for her adventure.

As Brooklyn drove … and drove, her mom wiped away tears. Her dad, who happened to be celebrating his birthday that day, said he couldn’t imagine a better gift. It was the first time he has seen Brooklyn smile in weeks.

Even after hours of play, Brooklyn showed no signs of slowing down. She laughed and squealed as she zoomed around, firing the Frisbee disk launcher at her dad every time she passed him. She repeatedly signed, “For me? Mine?” and we assured her again and again that yes — this car was absolutely hers.

Still, as we lifted her back into her wheelchair, her joy dimmed. She looked over her shoulder at the car with deep longing. It wasn’t until we loaded the car in her parents’ van that her smile reappeared.. She insisted on giving it one more look in the back of the van before heading home. She kissed her hand and pressed the kiss onto her car’s bumper.

We could not have asked for a better seal of approval.

Get an insider’s look at Brooklyn’s Delivery Day.

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Impact Drivers

Students in the Driver’s Seat

Our Invent for Good program puts young engineering and design minds in the driver’s seat. These teams have a big job: to design and prototype car assemblies and assistive devices for kids with movement limitations. Inventing for good is real work — with real impact; students produce solutions that improve the lives of real children every day.

Since 2020, our teams have developed a wide range of solutions that children and parents have requested to enhance our Geeks for Kids cars. Invent for Good participants have joined us from schools and programs across the region and beyond, including:

• Basehor–Linwood High School
• Blue Valley Center for Advanced Professional Studies
• Pittsburg State University
• Rockhurst University
• Rose–Hulman Institute of Technology
• Shawnee Mission Center for Academic Achievement
• University of Missouri–Kansas City
• And our own high school robotics team — The Red Hot Techie Peppers

We have big plans for our current Invent for Good teams; they will play a central role as we design and build new cars. For example, this year’s Pitt State team is helping design the modifications to our new base car.

“This has been my first real-world engineering experience outside of an internship. Seeing an idea move from concept to build to testing — and then come to life — has been a true ‘aha’ moment for me,” shared Laird Toland from our Pittsburg State University team.

These students don’t just understand engineering — they understand their impact, and the hard work and commitment that goes into each car. “Learning how every car is designed and built specifically to fit the needs of each child has been amazing. I had not realized the level of individualization and detail the cars had until we started working on our assemblies and coming up with various out-of-the-box-scenarios. We realized that our designs are not adaptable or universal to all kids, and that we need to be mindful of the design choices we make to ensure kids are able to steer and sit comfortably while having fun,” explained Bianca Alvarado, Pittsburg State University team. 

As we integrate these innovations into the next generation of Geeks for Kids cars, our partnership with Invent for Good teams is invaluable. “I always look forward to watching our teams step up to each challenge. They are a big part of our success — and the future of our mission to give more kids the power to play,” Rebecca Kidwell, LEARN President explained.

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Hitting the Road

Baby, It’s Cold Outside!

We love it when “our” kids can get outside and play year-round. Still, as temperatures drop, staying safe and warm while playing outdoors takes a little extra planning — especially for our kids with wheels.

• Bundle Up Smartly | Layer up to stay warm without the bulk. Adaptive outerwear with easy closures keeps kids cozy and comfortable.
• Prep the Wheels | Check tires and traction before heading out, and stick to cleared or packed paths for a smoother ride.
• Bring the Warmth | Hand warmers or a heated seat pad can make chilly adventures extra cozy.
• Plan Accessible Adventures | Seek out accessible parks, paved trails or cleared driveways. Try snow painting, bubble blowing or a winter scavenger hunt for all-abilities fun.
• Protect Hands and Controls | Choose gloves that allow for grip and finger movement to keep driving safe.
• End with a Warm Treat | A mug of cocoa is the perfect finish to a great day.

When it’s too cold to play outside… Ask your child’s school if you can use the gym. It’s a perfect place to zip around indoors and enjoy some freedom and movement.

And don’t forget to keep your car safe:

• Wipe away dirt or salt buildup.
• Store it indoors.
• Even better, store it under a breathable cover if you can; it makes spring clean-up that much easier.
• Disconnect the battery and keep it at room temperature.
• Check and protect wiring from moisture.

Always remember, even when the weather outside is frightful, there is always a way to move and play!

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Tech Talk

Geeks for Kids "Star Shot"

Every great adventure begins with a bold idea. For Geeks for Kids, the next big leap is Star Shot, an ambitious initiative to design and build the next generation of our adaptive vehicles.

Why now? Designing and building from-scratch vehicles that are more tailored to our kids’ needs were always on the agenda. We were forced to accelerate our plans, however, when we hit a massive speed bump at the start of this year. The base car we have used since our launch has been discontinued; by June of next year, we will have none left. Meanwhile, demand for our cars has doubled, and the kids in our queue range from toddlers to teens, and each with unique needs. One design simply won’t fit all.

When we began, we believed our recipients would principally be little kids who wanted to get out and play with other kids and to move and explore on their own. We have since learned that the interest in and need for cool hot rods does not end at the age of 8 to 10 years of age, nor does the interest and need end at the front door of the kids’ homes, schools, etc. Big kids still want cool transport, and all the kids want to play inside as well as outside.

Now, we know that we need to create a mobility toy that:

• Empowers kids - small and big - with movement limitations to explore, learn and grow through play indoors and out, across smooth and bumpy surfaces, and over hilly and flat terrain - and most of all to have FUN!
• Offers a variety of driving adaptations for different physical abilities.
• Offers fun challenges that engage our kids to use their minds and bodies as much as they are able.
• Excites and engages other kids, inviting them to talk and play with our recipients.
• Compliments and supports the child's developmental goals.

It takes great minds and big dreams to create new solutions like these. We need your help. Whether you are a designer, engineer, mechanic, therapist, planner or developer, you can make a difference. Join our monthly Star Shot brainstorming sessions. Together, we will reach for the stars and get every kid racing.

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