Westamerica

Many of you know that I'm an avid mountain biker.  I ride so I can eat without guilt.  That, plus it's just plain fun.  When I turned 50 five years ago, I helped organize a fundraising mountain bike event called "50 Mile Ride for Project Rwanda".  Well, I'm not 50 anymore.  A few years have passed, and that original fundraising ride has turned into an annual event.  Our 6th annual Rwanda Ride was held on Saturday April 28, 2012.  And 782 of my riding "buddies" showed up to help celebrate another birthday ride.  Along the way, we raised over $100,000 in this year's event.  This brings our six year total to over $320,000.  Proceeds benefit Project Rwanda (a micro-enterprise venture that provides cargo bikes to impoverished coffee growers in Rwanda) and Team Rwanda Cycling (creators and managers of the first Rwandan national cycling team).  We were extremely blessed in every way in this year's event.  To learn more, please check out this EVENT RECAP that was recently shared with our participants.

The 6th Annual 50 Mile Ride for Rwanda will be held on Saturday April 28, 2012 in Orange County CA.  Event organizers expect over 800 fun-loving mountain bikers to join this year’s event.  The Rwanda Ride raises funds for two non-profits:  Project Rwanda, a micro-enterprise venture that provides cargo bikes to impoverished coffee growers in Rwanda; and Team Rwanda Cycling, the first-ever national cycling team from Rwanda.

The Rwanda Ride is different than most mountain biking events.  First of all, the event is a “ride”, not a race. Riders participate for a lot of reasons: some for the challenge of riding further on a mountain bike than ever before, some because they love the Rwanda cause, some for the fun of sharing an epic day with their best riding buddies.  Second, the event is a fundraiser.  To-date, the Rwanda Ride has raised over $220,000 for Project Rwanda and Team Rwanda.  These funds are used to further the economic development of Rwanda through initiatives based on the bicycle as a tool and symbol of hope.

“Some friends and I put together the first Rwanda Ride six years ago for my 50th birthday,” says event founder Doug Grant.  “But now this event has really taken off.  Our ride has grown every year, thanks to our awesome volunteers and the support of so many bike shops and industry sponsors.”

The Rwanda Ride is popular among riders both young and old.  One of the “most mature riders” at age 66, John Ganahl said after last year’s event: “This was my first Rwanda ride and in spite of the wind I definitely enjoyed it.  I especially liked supporting the cause of helping Rwanda because my wife and I visited Rwanda two years ago.  We were truly inspired by the determination of the Rwandan people we met to improve their country after the terrible genocide of 1994.”  And one of our youngest riders, Bobby Bethurum (age 14) simply said “The 25 mile ride was awesome!  I’m going again next year.”

The 50 Mile Ride for Rwanda supports two non-profits:  Project Rwanda and Team Rwanda Cycling.  Project Rwanda was founded by Tom Ritchey, a pioneer in the mountain bike industry. Tom first visited Rwanda in 2005.  Tom was inspired by the people and their stories of reconciliation and hope.  He knew he could use his talent and resources to help make a difference – and Project Rwanda was born.  Ritchey designed a special utility bike that can quickly and efficiently transport heavy loads of coffee.  This cargo bike can increase a coffee farmer’s earning potential by 30-40 percent, giving them an opportunity to rise above poverty for the first time in their generation.  Team Rwanda Cycling athletes are riding for their country, spreading a message of hope and inspiration for Rwanda.  Word is spreading about this new “Team Rwanda”, the first national Rwandan cycling team.  Adrien Niyonshuti, an original Team Rwanda member, has now qualified for the 2012 Olympics in London.  Adrien will represent Team Rwanda as the first-ever Rwandan cyclist to participate in an Olympic Games.

Registration is now open for the 6th Annual Rwanda Ride.  The event offers three different route options to choose from:  the epic 50 mile route, a moderate but still challenging 25 mile route, and a new 10 mile route suitable for casual and beginning mountain bikers.  Riders and their friends and family are invited to stick around at Cooks Corner after they finish for the post-ride party and huge raffle prize drawing (over $25,000 in prizes including a Niner Jet9 RDO carbon bike, a complete Shimano XTR groupo, two Spinergy wheelsets, and two epic San Juan Huts Systems adventure trips – plus much more).  For more information and to register for the event, please visit 50mileride.com .

Mountain bikers in Orange County are doing what they love (riding bikes, right?) and they’re making a huge impact on the lives of impoverished coffee growers in Rwanda.

Planning has already begun for the 5^th annual 50 Mile Ride for Project Rwanda, to be held on Saturday April 30, 2011.  Originally created as a 50^th birthday ride for WAG president Doug Grant, this event has taken on a life of its own.  It’s become an Orange County mountain biking tradition, perhaps the largest event of its kind in California.  Event organizers plan to exceed 600 riders and hope to raise over $60,000 in this 5^th annual event.

What makes this event different?  First of all, it’s a “ride” not a race. Riders participate for a lot of reasons: some for the challenge of riding further on a mountain bike than ever before, some because they love the Project Rwanda cause, some for the fun of sharing the day with tons of their MTB buddies. Second, the event is a fundraiser. The 50 Mile Ride team has raised over $150,000 for Project Rwanda in the first four events. These funds are used to further the economic development of Rwanda through initiatives based on the bicycle as a tool and symbol of hope.

Do you ride?  SIGN UP TODAY!  Do you have friends or family that love to mountain bike?  Please help us spread the word.  SPONSORSHIP and DONATION opportunities are also available.

To learn more about the event, please visit 50MileRide .  For more information about Project Rwanda, please visit ProjectRwanda .

1 in 6.  That’s the number of Americans who will struggle with hunger today.

September is Hunger Action Month.  Throughout the month, a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks is calling upon communities to take action through the “30 Ways in 30 Days” campaign.  Here in Orange County, Westamerica Graphics is pleased to partner in this effort with Second Harvest Food Bank.  It’s estimated that 615,000 Orange County residents are at risk of going to bed hungry sometime during the month.  Second Harvest Food Bank provides meals to nearly 220,000 individuals every month in Orange County.  But donations have been low this year, and they need our help.

Here’s two ways you can help:

Help #1 – donate food.
Our Westamerica team, headed by Sharie Yeager, is coordinating a Food Drive.  We’ve got a big bin in our lobby, and we’re collecting food every day between now and October 14^th.  If you’re in our neighborhood, drop off your food donation and we’ll take it from there.  Or, simply contact your Account Rep or call our receptionist at 949-462-3600, and we’ll arrange to pick up your donation at your office.

Help #2 – join our team at the food bank.
Our Westamerica crew will form a 20 person volunteer team, helping at the Second Harvest OC Food Bank for a two hour shift on Thursday October 14 from 6pm to 8pm.  You are welcome to join us.  Knowing our gang, I’m sure it will be both fun and rewarding.  Contact your Rep or send Sharie an email (syeager@wagraphics.com) to volunteer, and we’ll give you all the details.

If you'd like to donate, here’s a list of the most-needed items:
*High-protein foods like canned meat, tuna, beef stew, peanut butter, mac & cheese, beans and lentils.

*Staple dry goods such as rice, pasta, and dry cereals.

*Canned goods including fruit, juices, vegetables, soups and spaghetti sauce.

*Baby food, formula and cereal.  Diapers and other baby-care items are also appreciated.

*To better serve the homeless, we need ready-to-eat items, individually-packed products, bottled water, small can openers, sunscreen, and personal care items (such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors, toilet tissue, deodorant, feminine hygiene items).

On behalf of Second Harvest, thanks for helping to make a difference!

Westamerica Graphics invites you to join leaders from Southern California's graphics and design industry for the most fun event of the year - the 9th Annual Shoot for the Cure golf tournament.

Our tournament will be held on Wednesday September 22, 2010 at the beautiful and challenging Oak Creek Golf Club here in Orange County.  We'll have a $10,000 putting contest, long-drive and closest-to competitions, yummy burgers from In-N-Out, and an award reception following the tournament.

What a great excuse to spend a day enjoying the sun and the fun, networking with your peers to raise funds in support of a worthwhile cause.  City of Hope is a world-renowned research, treatment and education facility for cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening diseases.  Ranked as one of "America's Best Hospitals" in cancer and urology by U.S. News and World Report, City of Hope is also designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center - the highest honor bestowed by the National Cancer Institute.

The Graphics Industry Council is a volunteer board of industry executives that come together to support City of Hope.  Westamerica Graphics is a founding member and long-time supporter of this Council.

For more information and to register, please visit Shoot for the Cure

We just completed our 4th annual 50 Mile Ride for Project Rwanda on Saturday April 10.  The event was a HUGE success, in every aspect.  The weather was perfect for riding (cool and partly coudy), the course was smooth and flowing (except of course for the rutted sections), the riders and volunteers were all having a blast (all 485 riders - a new record this year), and the post-ride bbq at Cooks Corner was delicious.  Best of all, we raised a new record of $52,000 in funds to support Project Rwanda.  What a blessing!  The OC Register's David Whiting rode all 50 miles in our event, and captured the essence of the ride in his article.  Read it here.

I turned 50 back in 2006 (yes there is life after 50, and it's still a good life!).  Outside of work at WAG, I'm an avid mountain biker.  Me and my MTB friends turned a 50th birthday ride into a fundraiser for Project Rwanda.  Project Rwanda's mission is to further the economic development of Rwanda through initiatives based on the bicycle as a tool and symbol of hope.

We're now into our 4th annual event (to be held on Saturday April 10, 2010).  Check out the story as featured in Mountain Bike Action's online magazine.