Paving the Way

A Message from Rebecca

As we kick off 2026, I am thrilled - and slightly overwhelmed - to share that we have reached the halfway mark of this year’s Build Season. Our workshop is buzzing: cars and other assistive devices are under production, and more kids are joining the queue every week. And the excitement is building as we count down to Delivery Days starting on June 7.

Thanks to our dedicated sponsors and supporters, our team is gearing up for the next phase of innovation. We are moving to a new base car, a platform that will give us more versatility, durability and opportunity to innovate for kids of all needs. At the same time, Star Shot is taking the next leap forward, preparing the way for the next generation of adaptive vehicles.

Read on for an inside look at the changes we are making to our new base car - the Ryder All-Wheel-Drive Buggy, our new base car. Join us on January 24 for our next phase of prototyping our next-gen vehicles. And, gear up for our upcoming Crowdfunding Campaign, a chance for all of us to put acts of love into motion and ensure every child gets the ride they deserve.

With your continued support, we are not just building cars. We are building independence, joy and lifelong memories. Let’s make 2026 our most impactful year yet!

Thank you for being a driving force!
Rebecca Kidwell

Half-Time Status

• 42 cars & 100s other assistive devices under production
• 81 more kids in the queue
• $240,166 raised
• $259,834 needed to cross the finish line
• 31 sponsors have signed
• New base car under development
• Star Shot - our initiative to build next gen vehicles - will enter the next stage of prototyping on January 24.

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Dreams on the Go

Rhea’s Racing

When we first connected with Rhea’s mom in the fall of 2024, she sent us a photo with the caption: “This is Rhea. Plus a side of sass.” She wasn’t kidding. Rhea is funny, sassy and endlessly charming — constantly amazing us with her boundless drive “to get going!”

So, we found it hard to imagine when her mom said, “Rhea so rarely gets to move, laugh and be included. It would be so amazing for her to be able to move and play with her siblings and neighborhood friends.”

Rhea is clearly a kid who would naturally be at the center of all the fun. She loves being outside, blowing bubbles, moving around (mostly in her wheelchair or on her adaptive bike), making hysterically funny faces, and playing with puffy balls. We knew that once she could keep up with the other kids, she would be the most popular kid around.

And we were right.

On June 1, 2025, as soon as Rhea received her car, she sat in front of the TV cameras, charming the socks off the reporters. Then she zipped off to the Test Track to put her new ride through its paces.

The very next day, her mom wrote:

“I just wanted to reach out and say I am beyond grateful for this car. The independence and inclusion it brings to Rhea opens up a world beyond what we could have imagined. Some say it’s ‘just a car,’ but it’s so, so much more to us. I am deeply thankful to every single person who donated, gave their time and worked so hard on building not only her car but everyone’s car. Every child deserves to be included, and you have done an amazing job making that happen. I don’t have many words, but I am beyond thankful. Rhea is truly blessed.”

We are blessed, too. Every smile, every hug and every “light bulb moment” reminds us why we do this, and keeps us going.

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Impact Drivers

Acts of Love in Motion

The first thing you notice isn’t the car. It’s the love behind it.

Every car Geeks for Kids builds begins with a small act. Someone giving their time. Whether it’s turning a wrench, sharing a story or asking a friend to help. On its own, any one act might seem simple, but together, these acts of love keep kids moving.

The belief that a child’s joy and independence are worth our time has kept local Rotary Clubs showing up for Geeks for Kids, year after year.

Rotary Clubs across the Kansas City area, including Overland Park Rotary Club, Downtown Rotary Club and Waldo Rotary Club, have fueled Geeks for Kids. Together, these clubs have donated thousands of volunteer hours and raised $60,000 to help children with movement limitations experience freedom, confidence and joy.

“Our local Rotary Club partnerships have been vital in helping us recruit volunteers even during COVID when keeping production going was really hard,” shared Rebecca Kidwell, president of Geeks for Kids. “These clubs have pitched in to solve key puzzles over the years, and their fundraising support has been just as critical. Their commitment has never slowed down.”

When the Overland Park South Rotary Club merged with the Overland Park Rotary Club in January 2025, the newly combined club continued its long-standing focus on serving children in the community.

“Many people need assistance for which we can provide support in the form of service hours and financial help but the most vulnerable of those people are children,” said Casey McCarthy, Overland Park Rotary Club representative and Geeks for Kids Business Leaders board member. “Geeks for Kids is a natural fit for us. We can be hands-on and see our impact in the lives of very deserving families.”

In recent years, Overland Park Rotary Club has leaned into Geeks for Kids’ annual crowdfunding campaign; they launched a friendly competition to share personal stories and rally friends, family and colleagues. Through these efforts, the club has raised vital funds that will help build custom cars for kids with mobility limitations.

“Getting creative and inviting our networks to support a mission we believe in has helped us raise a meaningful amount of money for this worthy cause,” McCarthy said.

It’s a model anyone can follow.

You don’t need a workshop. You don’t need mechanical skills. You don’t need to belong to a Rotary Club.

You just need the willingness to say, I can be part of this. And your impact becomes real on delivery days.

“Simply seeing the excitement on the children’s faces as they receive their custom-built cars is worth every minute of effort,” McCarthy shared. “I’ve often seen parents and family members in tears watching the joy these kids experience.”

Those moments are why Rotary Clubs keep showing up, and why Geeks for Kids invites everyone to do the same.

This year’s Acts of Love crowdfunding campaign will kick off soon. Whether you join as an individual, form a team or rally your own community, every dollar raised and every story shared helps keep kids moving.

Because small acts, when done together, create life-changing impact. You can be a driving force.

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Hitting the Road

Beat the Winter Blues

Winter can be tough for everyone and especially for kids who face mobility or health challenges. Shorter days, colder weather and limited outdoor play make it harder to stay active, engaged and upbeat. With a few simple strategies, you can help your child feel more connected and joyful all season long.

Find Small Ways to Keep Moving

Try indoor activities that encourage gentle motion and boost moods:

• Balloon toss or bubble play
• Dancing to fun, upbeat music
• Chair-friendly yoga or stretching videos

Even a few minutes of movement can lift spirits and keep your child feeling strong.

Keep Your World Bright

Create cozy, cheerful spaces indoors and bring sunlight inside.

• Add soft twinkle lights to bedrooms or play areas
• Plan an “indoor picnic” near a bright window

A warm, inviting environment goes a long way in winter.

Stay Connected

Help your child stay engaged.

• Schedule short Facetime calls with family
• Plan themed movie nights or game nights and invite friends
• Head out to fun indoor activities at your local library, museum or gym

Connection builds confidence and combats loneliness.

Make Routines Your Friend

Kids feel more secure, and often more cheerful, when they know what to expect. A consistent routine for meals, rest, play and schoolwork can help ease stress during long winter months.

Celebrate the Small Wins

Winter can make everyday tasks feel harder. Recognize moments of effort and independence.

Take Care of Yourself Too

Your energy sets the tone. Give yourself permission to rest, ask for help and build in small joys of your own. When you’re supported, your child feels it.

The Geeks for Kids community is here to support your family, celebrating every milestone and cheering you on through every season.

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Tech Talk

Reengineering the Ride

Our next adventure begins with the Ryder All-Wheel-Drive Buggy - the car we are adopting as our new foundation. Since 2019, we have built nearly 400 adaptive cars using the Fisher-Price Dune Racer Extreme, a sturdy and reliable platform. When Fisher-Price stepped away from the toy car market in late 2025, it opened the door for innovation—and the Ryder has given us an exciting new starting line.

The Ryder Buggy offers a lot of possibilities. It is slightly bigger than the Dune Racer, and it delivers more power with four-wheel drive. Moving to this platform lets us dream bigger. Here’s a snapshot of the upgrades we are designing to make the ride even better for kids:

• Floor and Frame Strength: We will reinforce the undercarriage to ensure long-term durability for kids of all sizes.
• Equipment and Roll Bar Mounts: We will add infrastructure to make it easier to securely attach trays and safety bars.
• Steering: We will re-engineer the column and linkage for greater durability and better access for smaller drivers.
• Motors and Housings: We will select reliable motors and protective housings for smooth performance.
• Hood and Battery Access: We will open up the hood and move the battery to make maintenance safer and simpler.
• Seating: We will build new seating with more recline and comfort for every child.
• Appearance: We will add fun colors and patterns to make each car joyful and inspiring.

​​This project is a team effort. Our team can handle the design and any construction that can be done with common hand tools and 3d printers, but we just can’t weld, paint, etc. in our underground workshop. We need expert partners to help with building the new undercarriage our new base car requires.

So, if your company or someone you know can help with welding and powder coating, we would love to hear from you! Together, we can build more than cars; we can build independence, growth and smiles.

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