B4E

About us

Mission

Promote persistence in education by empowering our students to take ownership of their future by proactively striving for excellence. The Bikes for Excellence Foundation was created to recognize exemplary elementary school students with a tangible award. During our experience with after-school and tutorial programs, we realized there was a need to help students increase their learning potential. We discovered that our students exemplify a more positive attitude toward learning when incentivized.

History

The Bikes for Excellence Foundation was established in 2006, and the focus was primarily on increasing attendance. “I told students that if they increased their attendance, they would be rewarded; however, I had no idea at that time what the award would be…but I knew it would make an impact” said director, Martha Jaimes. “Educators and students certainly appreciate pizza parties and popcorn afternoons, but my goal was to provide a more tangible award.”

As a former HPD officer, Martha Jaimes wanted Bikes for Excellence to include a law enforcement component. There is a real issue between local, state, and national law enforcement and the community they serve. We want to mend the relationship, so that our students come to trust, not fear, law enforcement.

BOARD

Our board members

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Martha Patricia Jaimes
President

A native Texan and Houston ISD graduate, Martha graduated from Charles Henry Milby High School. She was raised and continues to reside in the east end of the city. Martha completed an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the Houston Community College System, a bachelor’s degree in Communication from the Universidad Regiomontana in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon Mexico. She later completed a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Martha is a former Houston Police officer and currently works as an at-risk transitional administrator at the Secondary DAEP in Houston ISD. She is also a part-time adjunct instructor at the Houston Community College System.

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Phillip Patterson
Board Member

Phillip Patterson grew up in the Houston area. He attended Texas A&M University, majoring in Biomedical Engineering and receiving a minor in Mathematics. He received his Juris Doctorate from South Texas College of Law Houston in 2016. Phillip is a partner at his personal injury firm, Buckley Patterson, PLLC. Phillip enjoys spending time with his wife, three daughters and son. He enjoys the outdoors, hiking, sports, and going on long walks with the family Labrador, Dez. Phillip is an active member in the Houston community and is a proud board member of Bikes for Excellence. He also volunteers his time teaching Sunday School at his church.

Yolanda Alvarado
Director

Yolanda Alvarado, a native Houstonian, with a Masters of Social Work from University of Houston. Currently works for the Houston Independent School District as a Wraparound Specialist. She has worked in the education field in various capacities for most of her career. She’s provided educational services for: Houston Community College as a Campus Manager, City of Houston Department of Health and Human Services leading youth health initiatives, Director of Expectation Graduation, a non-profit initiated by Mayor White. Previously, she served as Director of Education for Planned Parenthood of Houston.

She also previously worked as a counselor in private practice. Her experience with youth and women provided her with special counseling skills for teens and women. She also managed educational outreach programs for Planned Parenthood such as: Brighter Futures, Promotora, and HIPPY Programs. The Brighter Futures Program has been nationally recognized as a program that “works” by experts in the field on teen pregnancy prevention and youth development.

Yolanda’s interest in film and photography led her to write and produce two award winning documentaries on women and reproductive rights: The History of the Women's Movement in Houston and The Fight for Choice: Houston's Pro-Choice Movement.

She served on the Living Archives Committee for The University of Houston Friends of Women’s Studies. As a member of this committee, she produced taped video interviews of women telling their personal stories for the University of Houston Library, 2002-1007. Because of her interest in oral history and the preservation of personal stories, she has been trained by Dr. Marchiafava, former Director of the Houston Metropolitan Research Center for The Houston Public Library.

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Luis Civallero
Coordinator

A native Houstonian, Luis graduated from Hendrix College where he earned a degree in History and competed in NCAA soccer for four years. He spent the first few years of his career at Murrah & Killough PLLC as a law clerk then after graduating Luis shifted his interest in law towards the public sector. He currently runs Joaquin Martinez's campaign for Houston City Council District I as Field Coordinator. Luis is a passionate public servant and proud board member of Bikes for Excellence. He spends his free time registering young people to vote as a Volunteer Deputy Voter Registrar, he teaches Sunday school to youth groups at First United Methodist Downtown, and still enjoys playing soccer on weekends.

ADVISORY BOARD

AMBASSADORS

Ambassadors

  • Anita Dalton-Roberts
  • Justin Ritsem
  • Lonnie Reynolds Jr
  • Paige Patterson
  • Gloria Alvarez-Rodriguez

Advisory Board

  • Ardis Eichhorn – Philanthropist
  • CM Robert Gallegos – District I
  • Eva Loredo – HCCS Board of Trustee
  • Irma Galvan – Chef, Restauranteur, owner of Irma’s Original Restaurant
  • Victor Trevino III – Justice of the Peace Judge Pct. 6
  • Dr. Sergio Lira – LULAC President 4967
  • Patricia Yvette Cantu – Assistant Chief Houston Police Department