Community Engagement Program
The Bumper Initiative™
Building Connections. Inspiring Imagination. Strengthening Families.
The Bumper Initiative™ is a community engagement program developed by BuildingBlocs Literacy that uses storytelling, character-based learning, interactive vehicles, and hands-on activities to bring families together while promoting social-emotional learning, literacy, STEM exploration, and veteran engagement.
Our Purpose
Our Mission
The Bumper Initiative exists to help children and families reconnect through shared experiences. In a world increasingly dominated by screens and digital distractions, we believe children learn best when they can engage their imagination, interact with others, and participate in hands-on experiences that encourage curiosity, empathy, problem solving, and emotional growth.
"Strong families build strong communities."
What We Do
Program Components
The Bumper Book Series
The heart of the initiative is the growing Bumper children's book collection. Through adventures, friendships, challenges, and lessons learned along the way, Bumper and his friends help children explore kindness, teamwork, problem solving, emotional awareness, resilience, friendship, and confidence.
Story Time With Lori
Lori serves as the voice and ambassador of Bumper. Through live readings, school visits, library programs, community events, and virtual story times, children are introduced to the world of Bumper in a way that is interactive, welcoming, and memorable.
Bumper Character Vehicles
The Bumper Initiative utilizes full-size character vehicles and custom displays that bring the stories off the page and into the real world — at car shows, libraries, schools, festivals, community fairs, and family events.
RC Adventure Program
The RC component allows children and families to interact directly with the Bumper characters through scaled vehicles and obstacle courses. Activities encourage patience, hand-eye coordination, problem solving, STEM exploration, and family participation.
NASCAR RC Experience
A fleet of NASCAR-themed RC vehicles used during fairs, festivals, and community events creates exciting opportunities for friendly competition, family participation, community engagement, and youth interaction.
Uncle Aaron Road Tales
The Bumper Book Series
Five books and growing — each adventure teaches children kindness, teamwork, resilience, and emotional intelligence through the eyes of Bumper and his friends.
Book 1
Book 2
Book 3
Book 4
Book 5
Serving Those Who Served
Veteran Outreach Component
The Bumper Initiative was originally inspired by the therapeutic value of vehicles, hobbies, and community engagement. As a veteran-founded organization, we recognize the importance of creating opportunities that reconnect veterans with their communities and families. BuildingBlocs plans to begin donating vehicles to selected veterans in North Carolina as a way to support connection, purpose, and community involvement.
Partner
Featured Veteran Partner
Featured Veteran Partner: AMVETS RC
BrightPath Foundation is proud to partner with AMVETS RC — a veteran-led remote control racing community that uses the hobby of RC vehicles to build camaraderie, purpose, and connection among veterans and their families. Through this partnership, the Bumper Initiative brings its RC Adventure Program directly into veteran spaces, creating shared experiences that bridge generations and strengthen community bonds.
Visit AMVETS RC on Facebook →Working Together
Community Partnerships
The Bumper Initiative is designed to work alongside community organizations rather than replace existing programs.
Get Involved
Sponsorship Opportunities
Because the initiative includes books, vehicles, community events, educational programming, and family activities, there are numerous opportunities for local businesses and organizations to become involved.
Become a Sponsor →The Real Purpose
Why It Matters
The Bumper Initiative is not about books. It is not about RC vehicles. It is not about car shows. Those are simply tools. The real purpose is creating opportunities for children, parents, grandparents, veterans, and community members to spend time together, build relationships, and develop the emotional intelligence skills that help families thrive.
"Strong families build strong communities."