NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Contact: Caeli Quinn, Executive Director, Climate Ride, 406.871.5477, [email protected]
150 CYCLISTS AND THOUSANDS OF SUPPORTERS TAKE THE MESSAGE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND BICYCLE ADVOCACY ON THE ROAD
Nation’s Largest Environmental Charitable Bicycle Ride to Begin in San Francisco May 17; Nightly Events to Include Sustainability Thought Leaders, Eco-Heroes, Policy Experts;
Mayor of West Sacramento & Assemblymembers to Deliver Keynote Remarks at Finale May 20
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – May 13, 2014: The 10th Climate Ride, Climate Ride California 2014, will be held May 17-20 and will see more than 150 cyclists pedal through California’s famed wine country from San Francisco to Sacramento. The 4-day, 250-mile cycling adventure will raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for nearly 100 of the nation’s leading environmental and bike advocacy organizations. The ride features some of the best and brightest minds working in the areas of sustainability, renewable energy and bicycle advocacy. Climate Ride is known as the ‘green conference on wheels’ because participants pedal 50-80 miles each day, and then engage in a curated evening program that highlights ideas, advocacy and social entrepreneurship.
“Every day we see new environmental crises and challenges, but when Climate Ride participants realize they have the power to take action and change lives, they elevate expectations for their communities and for themselves,” said Caeli Quinn, Climate Ride’s Co-Founder. “In 2013, we granted more than $510,000 to groups that our participants selected. This is an incredibly empowering experience to raise funds, ride your bike and see the impact in the areas that you want to support. This bicycle ride has a profound impact on people personally, and helps move the country toward a sustainable, renewable future.”
Climate Ride has an innovative beneficiary structure, which allows participants to direct their event fundraising to organizations of their choice. This structure allows more organizations related to sustainability, renewable energy, climate and bicycle advocacy to receive funding from Climate Ride events. In 2014 Climate Ride estimates that it will grant more than $650,000 to more than 100 beneficiaries. A full list can be found at: http://www.climateride.org/fundraising/beneficiaries.
The ride begins at 9:00 am on Sunday, May 17, in San Francisco, CA, the start of a 250-mile journey that will culminate with a ride into Sacramento – where a rally and speaking event will take place on Tuesday, May 20 at 3:30 pm on the South Steps of the State Capitol Building. The riders will be greeted by West Sacramento Mayor Chris Cabaldon, Assemblymember Wes Chesbro, Assemblymember Nancy Skinner, Jim Brown, Executive Director of the Sacramento Area Bicyclists Association and Renee Rivera, Executive Director of Bike East Bay. The complete list of nearly 40 speakers and roundtable leaders at Climate Ride California 2014 can be found at http://www.climateride.org/about-our-events/speakers.
About Climate Ride
Climate Ride is a nonprofit organization founded to change lives through sport and build an effective, citizen-based sustainability movement. Started as a five-day bike ride from NYC to Washington DC six years ago, Climate Ride has grown into an idea catalyst and leading funder of the environmental and active transportation movement. Climate Ride now convenes four annual Climate Ride events which bring together hundreds of people to share knowledge, raise funds and advance sustainability. Climate Ride speakers have included top sustainability thinkers, eco-heroes, and policy experts.
In 2014, Climate Ride’s events include the California Wine Country Ride (May 17-20th, 2014), the Glacier Montana Hike (August 26-28, 2014), the new Midwest Ride (September 7-9th, 2014) and the NYC-DC Ride (Sept ). Climate Ride also offers and an endurance program called Independent Challenges, which empowers people to design their own events for the cause. Climate Ride events raise money for a collection of innovative organizations including 350.org, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Transportation Alternatives, National Parks Conservation Association, Washington Area Bicyclist Association, 1% for the Planet, and more.
Climate Ride is garnering more and more attention each year including being inducted into the International Green Industry Hall of Fame in 2012, and receiving an award in 2011 for ‘Best in Green Travel’ from leading green news outlet TreeHugger.
Climate Ride is the first bicycle tour where pedal strokes help raise money and awareness of a future powered by renewable energy, sustainability, and a green economy. Carbon offsets, hybrid or high-fuel economy support vehicles and near zero-waste catering are a few of the innovative measures that Climate Ride has successfully implemented. The ride offers people who share a passion for green living and cycling a chance to make a difference. Each Climate Rider pays a registration fee of $100 and then raises at least $2800 to participate in this 4-day, fully-supported event.
Registration for Climate Ride’s other 2014 events is open at www.climateride.org. Registration includes a personal fundraising web page, training/logistical support and access to a nationwide network of Climate Riders. The ride includes a cycling jersey, campsites, luggage transfer, road support, meals, bike mechanics, bike guides and the nightly evening program. Sponsorship opportunities are available for Climate Ride NYC-DC 2014, Climate Ride Midwest 2014, and Climate Hike 2014. For more information, please contact Caeli Quinn, Executive Director, at 406-871-5477 or [email protected].
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