What started as a leadership lesson turned into a moment our Bulldogs will never forget.
When a busload of Wylie elementary students arrived at the Abilene Convention Center last week, they thought they were simply helping Hendrick Health employees with a community project. Clipboards in hand, they were told they’d be learning about teamwork and trust — and helping “build bikes for kids in need.”
So they rolled up their sleeves.
Inside the hall, groups of Hendrick Health leaders and students worked side-by-side, turning piles of parts into shiny new bicycles. Between tightening bolts and snapping on pedals, leaders explained the importance of trust — how hospitals, like classrooms, rely on everyone working together.
The students listened, laughed, and worked with care. Each group named their bike, polished it with pride, and attached a colorful tag matching their bus group.
Then came the twist.
As the final bikes were lined up in neat rows, Hendrick’s leadership team gathered the room for one last announcement. The kids leaned in.
“Remember those bikes you just built?” the speaker asked. “They’re not for other kids — they’re for you.”
For a split second, silence. Then came the wide eyes, the gasps, the laughter, and even a few happy tears.
Each student left that day with more than a bike — they left with a backpack of goodies, a helmet, a memory, and a life lesson about kindness coming full circle.
Giving back to our community is at the core of Hendrick Health’s culture. As part of their annual Leadership Development Institute Summit, more than 350 Hendrick leaders worked alongside Wylie ISD students to build bikes while strengthening their communication and team-building skills. And when those students learned the bikes were for them, the room erupted with pure joy.
A huge Bulldog thank-you to Hendrick Health for their generosity, creativity, and heart in making this moment possible. And to our young Bulldogs — ride safe, wear your helmets, and keep paying that kindness forward.
Because at Wylie, we believe giving builds character — and in this case, a little joy, too.
It’s great to be a Wylie Bulldog!
