About The Andy Zigler Foundation

The Andy Zigler Foundation was created to honor the life and legacy of Andrew John Zigler, who tragically passed away in March 2024 after a mental health crisis. Andy was known for his kindness, his love for family and friends, and his lifelong passion for bicycles. In his memory, the foundation turns Andy’s greatest joy into a source of hope for children—by providing bicycles to kids who might not otherwise have the chance to own one.

Through an annual community bike ride, Andy’s Bikes from Heaven, the foundation raises funds to support The Bike Elves of Beloit, Wisconsin—a husband-and-wife team who dedicate their lives, skills, and hearts to restoring donated bicycles and gifting them to local children. The Bike Elves are not a formal business or charity; they do this work purely out of kindness, accepting only physical donations of bikes, helmets, and parts—not cash.

All proceeds from the ride are kept within the local community where Andy grew up and lived, ensuring that every contribution directly benefits children and families in the Janesville–Beloit area.

Alongside giving back through bicycles, the foundation is deeply committed to raising awareness about mental health. Andy’s passing reminds us that these struggles are real, they take lives, and they affect everyone connected to the person who suffers. We want to break the stigma, spark open conversations, and remind people it’s okay to talk about mental health and to ask for help.

The foundation stands as a tribute to Andy’s spirit, ensuring his memory continues to inspire joy, generosity, resilience, and hope.

Mission Statement

The Andy Zigler Foundation exists to keep Andy’s memory alive by sharing his love of bicycles, spreading kindness, supporting mental health awareness, and helping children and families in the community he called home.

We achieve this by:

Raising funds through community events to provide bicycles and gear for children.
Partnering with The Bike Elves, a husband-and-wife duo who restore and distribute donated bikes purely out of kindness.
Keeping every dollar and donation local, so the impact stays within the Janesville–Beloit community.
Creating opportunities for neighbors, friends, and family to come together in service, remembrance, and joy.
Speaking openly about mental health struggles to break stigma and encourage people to seek help.

Our mission is rooted in love, remembrance, and the belief that every child deserves the joy and freedom of riding a bike—and that every life touched by mental health struggles deserves compassion and hope.

Who We Impact

The foundation touches lives in several meaningful ways:

Children in Need – Kids who may never have experienced the independence of owning a bike receive not just transportation, but a symbol of joy, freedom, and confidence.
Families – Parents gain relief knowing their children are included, supported, and provided with opportunities they may not otherwise afford.
The Local Community – Because all proceeds stay in the Janesville–Beloit area, Andy’s hometown directly feels the benefit of every gift. By bringing people together through our events, the foundation fosters connection, resilience, and shared purpose.
Mental Health Awareness – By sharing Andy’s story, we remind others that mental health struggles are real, they affect entire families and communities, and it’s okay to talk about them and ask for help.
Neighbors Helping Neighbors – The partnership with The Bike Elves demonstrates how acts of kindness, without expectation of profit, can transform lives and strengthen the community.

Ultimately, every bike given, every ride hosted, every conversation sparked, and every dollar raised ensures Andy’s spirit continues to uplift others—especially children and families in the community he loved most.

Who Was Andy

Deep down, Andy was the heart of loyalty, friendship, and love. His heart was larger than life, and he gave of himself freely to those around him. To know Andy was to feel cared for, supported, and valued, and his presence left an imprint of kindness wherever he went. He was also the life of the party—not once in a while or just sometimes, but always. If you so much as saw Andy, you’d smile, because you knew he’d have you laughing in seconds. His compassion was incomprehensible, his humor unmatched, and his loyalty unwavering. Andy never met a stranger; if he met you even once, he remembered you. And if you were lucky enough to meet him more than once, he surely had a story about you—one that would leave you laughing until your sides hurt.

It is because of these qualities—his generosity, his humor, his kindness, and his boundless love—that we felt compelled to create this foundation. Through it, we hope to carry forward his spirit and ensure that the joy and compassion he embodied continue to touch lives. To know Andy was to love Andy, and those of us closest to him are committed to keeping the very best parts of him alive by doing something he always wished he could have done himself—giving bicycles to children who otherwise might not have the chance to own one.