What began as an Eagle Scout Project has steadily grown into an inspiring story of hard work and heart.

Bellevue High School senior Matthew Lee, the founder of First Gear, was presented with the Wendy Walter Trudy Award for outstanding volunteerism during the 2010 Champions for Foster Kids Luncheon for Treehouse.

Lee was recognized for going above and beyond for his work with First Gear, a club at Bellevue High School that bridges students from Bellevue High to foster kids in the Seattle Area. As a team, the club’s goal is to efficiently collect, fix, clean and donate bikes to the non-Profit organization Treehouse.

Lee first began collecting bikes for Treehouse four years ago when he visited the organization with a friend.

“I was searching for an Eagle Scout Project and when I visited the warehouse at Treehouse. I noticed only one bike hanging on the wall. I asked about it and they told me the kids loved to ride bikes, but they were expensive and few were ever donated,” he explained. “I decided I would collect bikes and fix them up for the foster kids to enjoy.”

Lee’s project soon took on a life of its own and he turned to fellow students for additional help with collecting, fixing and delivering bikes to Treehouse. He created the First Gear Club at Bellevue High School. The club is made up of roughly 30 active members who collect the bikes, clean them and buy new parts to fix them up like new. The club holds an annual bike drive once a summer and has donated more than 300 bikes over the years.

“Seeing the kids wait with smiles as we unload the bikes from the truck has been one of my favorite experiences,” he said. “We do this for the kids.”

He was humbled to learn he would be presented with the 2010 Wendy Walters Truitt Volunteer Award.

“Matthew Lee embodies the values and effort that the Wendy Walters Truitt Volunteer Award represents,” said Shaunessy Jones, the event manager for Treehouse. “He is an amazing kid.”

Lee plans to attend the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business this coming fall. He will hand over the leadership of the First Gear Club to fellow Bellevue High students, but will stay involved despite the distance.

Lindsay Larin can be reached at 425-453-4602.

To learn more about First Gear and Treehouse, visit www.treehouse4kids.org.