Gearing Up for Greatness: Hendrick Health Leaders Build Bikes, Trust, and Community
On October 8, 2025, nearly 400 leaders from Hendrick Health gathered in Abilene, Texas, for the annual Leadership Development Summit, an event designed to challenge, inspire, and unite the organization’s leadership team around the theme “Gearing Up for Greatness.”
This year’s summit was also about giving back. Leaders worked side by side with 80 local students from Abilene and the Big Country area to assemble brand-new bicycles. What began as a leadership challenge focused on communication, trust, and teamwork ended in a heartwarming surprise as the leaders revealed that the bikes they built were gifts for the very children who helped them.
“Giving back to our community is at the core of Hendrick Health’s culture, and we were grateful to find an organization like Bikes for Goodness Sake that shared that value,” said Jill Sharp, Leadership and Development Director for Hendrick Health. “Thanks to their partnership, our leaders worked alongside young students from our area to build bikes while strengthening critical leadership skills like communication, trust, and collaboration. The moment the children realized the bikes were theirs was one we’ll never forget.”
The day’s activities blended Hendrick Health’s mission of service with meaningful leadership development. Every step of the build, from sorting parts to tightening bolts, required communication, problem-solving, and mutual support.
“Bikes for Goodness Sake made the whole experience easy to execute and far less stressful,” Sharp added. “We didn’t have to shop for bikes, helmets, or tools, or worry about quality and shipping. We also didn’t have to worry about the quality of the bikes or their construction, thanks to the skilled mechanics that Bikes for Goodness Sake provided. Knowing that these bikes were a central part of our learning activities and that we didn’t have to worry about a thing, elevated the experience for all of us as we worked together to give back to our community.”
Founded on the belief that a simple act of kindness can change lives, Bikes for Goodness Sake partners with organizations across North America to host purpose-driven events that combine corporate leadership development with community giving.
“It was an honor to partner with Hendrick Health for their Leadership Summit,” said Kenna Smith, Managing Director of Bikes for Goodness Sake. “Their leaders embraced the spirit of the event wholeheartedly, working together, leading with compassion, and showing these students what it means to serve with heart.”
The event embodied the essence of Gearing up for Greatness, pushing beyond professional growth to make a real difference in the lives of others. By the end of the day, Hendrick Health’s leaders had not only sharpened their leadership skills but also strengthened the bonds that connect their teams to the community they serve.
“If you’re looking for an easy-to-execute, purpose-driven, life-changing experience for your leaders or organization, you couldn’t find a better partner than Bikes for Goodness Sake,” Sharp concluded. “They provide the resources, tools, and heart needed to make a meaningful impact.”
For Hendrick Health, Greatness wasn’t just a theme—it was something built, shared, and pedaled forward into the community.
