Some people golf or play tennis for hobbies. For Scituate’s Richard Bonanno, his hobby is giving, bikes specifically. For the past five years, his Rolling Wave Foundation has donated more than 4,700 unused or unwanted bicycles to communities across the South Shore and the country. For this effort, Bonanno has been named the recipient of The Smiling Neighbor award given by South Weymouth Dentist Dr. Richard Wolfert, DMD.
“Richard is truly an inspiration. He repairs the bikes himself, using some of the donated bikes for parts. What’s even more impressive is how he has expanded his giving from repaired bicycles to food, clothing and other items,” said Dr. Wolfert. “His current effort of collecting school supplies for children in West Virginia. For that, he’s a very worthy recipient of the Smiling Neighbor Award.”
A self-employed carpenter, Bonanno unofficially began Rolling Wave Foundation out of a want to give to those less fortunate.
“It started with the bicycles and then you saw some of the basic needs people had that were not being met. So we expanded to toys, clothing and other items and we now send our donations to communities all over the country,” said Bonanno.
Bonanno estimates he spends 30 to 35 hours per week repairing bikes and with other activities to do with Rolling Wave Foundation. “Once you start doing this stuff, giving, it’s very addictive and you just want to do more.”
In lieu of the usual honors for being selected a Smiling Neighbor—either a $50 gift card to Stockholders or a Sonicare Easy Clean model. Bonanno chose the gift card and received a $150 donation for the Rolling Wave Foundation.
“One of the best donations I’ve ever made and it’s tax deductible,” said Dr. Wolfert.
The Rolling Wave Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit. For more information on making a donation, private message Bonanno via his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/richard.bonanno.1
The Smiling Neighbor award is given out on a quarterly basis to citizens of Weymouth going above and beyond the call of duty for their fellow citizens. People can nominate a Smiling Neighbor by sending an e-mail of 200 words or less to toothboss1@aol.com. Please remember to include your name and telephone number as well as the name and telephone number or e-mail of the person they are nominating. Nominations can also be sent to The Toothboss, 1121 Main Street, South Weymouth, MA 02190.