By Alan Spooner
Making change in Russell’s memory, opportunities for support still open
Our first virtual Gala and Awards show, seventh overall, exceeded our expectations – thanks to our supporters and all of you who tuned in. Highlights included acceptance speeches by awardees Stephen Del Monte, CEO of DelMoSports, Dr. Valerie Arkoosh, Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, and our BCYC Athlete of the Year Sasha Catledge. We drew the winner for a new Fuji bike, Sylvia Beck, and announced the winner of the Liberty Bell Trophy, Joe Chera, who completed all five (yes five!) of our I Bike PHL Challenge routes.
Stealing the show was Big Al’s bike, a stand in for our custom Bilenky build, a to-be-yet built bike won in our auction by Ryan Schumacher.
Our new friends from Synergetic Sound in post show pose with Big Al’s Bilenky bike
We’re still tallying the numbers, but we know we exceeded our overall financial goal handily thanks to the support shown by over 200 sponsors, registrants, and viewers. Contributing immensely to our success were Platinum Sponsors Brandywine Realty Trust, Independence Blue Cross, and Jason and Angela Duckworth.
Jeff Hammond, MC extraordinaire, announced our live appeal goal of $25,000, to send five of our BCYC alums to college with scholarships next year. Jerry Jacobs, coach and founder of the Jerry and Julie Jacobs BCYC Scholarship Fund, then announced a dollar for dollar match on the appeal, which raised $17,430. The match is still in effect – and our goal is attainable – so we invite everyone to contribute to this effort to provide scholarships for ten students (possible because of the match) under Russell’s name. You can donate to that initiative here and watch the tribute we did for Russell, cycling advocate and former board member of the Coalition, on our Youtube channel.
Huge thanks also go out to our participating bike shops who donated auction items as part of the I Bike PHL Challenge and our annual Gala:
- Bicycle Therapy
- Bilenky Cycle Works
- Befitting Bicycles
- Bell’s Bike Shop
- BikeSport
- Cadence Cycling & Multisport
- Fairmount Bicycles
- Firehouse / Wolf Cycles
- Firth & Wilson Transport Cycles
- Germantown Bicycle Supply
- Guy’s Bicycles
- Keswick Cycle
- M&M TwoWheelers
- Mechanic / bicycle pro shop
- Philadelphia Bikesmith
- The Energy Lab
- Trek Bikes
- Trophy Bicycles
- VeloJawn
- Via Bicycles
- Wheel Fun Bike Rentals