Q&A

This lawyer’s best win happens off the clock

The business case for giving back: what one attorney learned from a decade of bike giveaways

(Courtesy Chuck Boyk)

Chuck Boyk isn’t just an attorney; he’s a hometown advocate making sure kids who show heart and resilience get recognized. Through a bike giveaway program run by his Toledo, Ohio-based firm, Charles E. Boyk Law Offices, more than 180 children have received new bicycles and a reminder that their effort matters. What began as a simple push for bike safety has grown into a lasting community tradition.

Here, Boyk shares how the initiative began, what it’s taught him about community connection and why building something meaningful outside of billable hours can reshape not only your reputation—but your outlook on the law itself.

—Interview by Emily Kelchen, edited by Bianca Prieto

What inspired you to start giving away bicycles?

Boyk Law originally launched this contest in 2009 to promote bicycle safety and recognize exceptional and deserving children in our community. It was supposed to be a one-time deal, but it didn’t take long to see the reaction of these kids and how much they appreciated the bikes. That good feeling was something we definitely wanted to do again.

We’ve now given away over 180 bikes, and there have been a lot of very deserving kids. Not every child has to do something huge to be considered, but we wanted to celebrate the extraordinary that can come from the ordinary.

Are there particular kids or stories that stick with you after all these years?

Past winners have included a girl who founded an anti-bullying organization and a boy who was seriously injured saving a toddler from a dog attack. We’ve given bikes to refugees who came to America with nothing.

We’ve also helped multiple kids with physical disabilities and other challenges receive their first bike. Some needed adaptive pedals or other modifications to ride confidently and safely, and we were able to help them.

Giving away bikes is our way of acknowledging and celebrating these great kids. We have videos about some of them on our website.

How has the program changed your relationship with your community?

A lot of people know Charles Boyk Law Offices as the lawyers who give away the bikes, but Bikes for Kids is only one of the ways we give back to the community. We support local causes and organizations like animal shelters. We offer a veteran scholarship and fund a food pantry at a local elementary school. We receive a lot of feedback and reviews that praise our community outreach.

We’ve also had clients who have nominated kids to win a bike. In fact, we had two prior clients nominate kids in 2025. It doesn’t mean they are automatically selected, but I am happy that they are aware of our efforts.

For other lawyers who are thinking about starting a long-term community project, what advice would you give?

Pick something you’re passionate about and partner with a small local business rather than a big box store. We have always partnered with the same local bike shop. They are amazing to work with, and I know the bikes we give away are assembled correctly and the right size for the kids we are giving them to. We purchase the bikes from them; they provide a helmet, bike lock and expertise. It is a win-win scenario.