MCBC Education & Encouragement Cory’s Ride High School Students Ride into the New Year
For those of you that have been following the Cory’s Ride journey, it’s been a wonderfully impactful first couple of years. Our mission is to provide the joy and benefits of cycling to as many Marin students as possible, particularly those that might not have the opportunity otherwise.
We began by purchasing 55 new bicycles that have been ridden by thousands of elementary and middle school students at our bike rodeos, where we teach bike skills and safe riding practices on public streets. Additionally, a group of high school students worked with us last spring to receive bikes of their own after completing a series of workshops focusing on safety education and leadership training. Last Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, MCBC and Cory’s Ride provided bikes to a second group of high school students.
This second group of students were recruited from the AVID program at San Rafael High School. The AVID program is for students who will be the first in their families to attend college. These students diligently work on study skills and college preparation as they strive for success in their post high school lives. The MCBC team has been working with these students since the start of the school year teaching safety skills, rules of the road, the benefits of active transportation, and showing just how joyous riding a bicycle can be. After completing our classes these motivated students have earned a bike, helmet, and other equipment to be self sufficient cyclists. Their commitment to the program is for one year, after which time they become mentors for future Cory’s Ride students. We are excited to continue working with this group of students over the school year as we meet for monthly group rides, maintenance sessions and educational events.
CORY’S RIDE RECEIVES GRANT FROM OUTRIDE
Cory’s Ride was recently honored as a distinguished recipient of a grant from Outride. Founded in 2014, Outride is a public non-profit with the mission to increase access to cycling for young people so that every child can experience the freedom, joy, and community that riding a bike can provide. Cory’s Ride was selected as one of 53 national cycling organizations to split the $530,000 they committed, and the Outride Fund will match dollar-for-dollar donations raised up to $10k before July 2022. That could mean $20k for Cory’s Ride! You can read the full Outride Fund press release here. If you are interested in helping us hit that fundraising goal and to receive the full match, please consider making a donation here.
Outride also chose Cory’s Ride as one of seven recipient organizations highlighted as part of their Solstice Ride campaign which granted an additional $5,700 in funds. Thank you, Outride, for believing in Cory’s Ride. We appreciate your focus on empowering local communities and improving diversity, equity, and inclusion for youth riders.
We would like to acknowledge the key people and partners that make Cory’s Ride possible: Tim and Suzanne Leonoudakis for creating Cory’s Ride in memory of their beloved son. Our amazing donors and MCBC members for their support. Cleary Bikes, Backroads, and Mike’s Bikes for helping us out with our equipment needs. It takes a village, and we couldn’t do it without all of your generosity. If you are interested in joining Team Cory’s Ride as a donor, you may do so here.
MCBC looks forward to expanding the Cory’s Ride program and welcoming even more students to participate throughout the county. The Cory’s Ride program was made possible through the generous support of our amazing donors, MCBC members, and the partnership of Safe Routes to Schools (a program of the Transportation Authority of Marin). We’d love to have you join Team Cory’s Ride as a donor:
Click here to learn more about Cory’s Ride
join THE marin county bicycle coalition
We’re working to make bicycling safe, fun, and accessible for children and families. Join us today!
