How a 7-Year-Old Raised $4,000 for Bikes— Donating to Boys & Girls Club

Dorian donated bikes to the Boys and Girls Club

Sometimes, disappointment is exactly what we need to push us toward something bigger. Looking back, I’m actually grateful D-Max didn’t win that gift certificate—because what happened next was so much more meaningful.

When D-Max was named Volunteer of the Year by the United Way of Eastern Maine, the ceremony was held over Zoom because of COVID. He thought it was cool to be on the computer screen, but afterward, he was really upset. At first, I didn’t get it. When I asked him what was wrong, he told me, “I wanted to win the gift certificate.”

Before he could even finish his thought, I jumped in—classic mom move—telling him, “You already have several bikes. You don’t need a new one.” That’s when he looked at me and said, “Mom, I wanted to use it at a local bike shop so I could donate bikes to kids at the Boys and Girls Club.”

Cue the I’m the worst mom ever moment. But after my wave of guilt passed, I told him, “We don’t need to win a gift certificate to make that happen.” And that’s when things really got interesting.

We called the Boys and Girls Club to ask about the need. When they told us 25 bikes, I had that uh-oh moment—quick math said that was going to be a much bigger challenge than I expected. But instead of backing down, we leaned in and started making a plan.

D-Max got to work creating D-Max Merch sunglasses, launching a “buy a pair, donate a pair” campaign for kids at the Boys and Girls Club. He pitched Subway on Union St. and Hermon to carry them. He brought them to his summer camp. He even set up a lemonade stand at the Brewer IGA and sold them at a local grocery store.

The result? Over $4,000 raised to buy bikes and helmets for kids at the Boys and Girls Club in Bangor. Huge thanks to amazing supporters like NextHome, Subway on Union St. and Hermon, St. Andrew’s Lodge, Bangor Breakfast Kiwanis Club, and everyone who stopped by his lemonade stand. It was truly a community effort!

So yeah, he didn’t win that gift certificate. But he won something so much bigger: a community of supporters, a passion for giving, and the realization that when you want to make a difference, you don’t wait for someone to hand it to you—you make it happen.