BishopFoundation.org will continue to channel the inspiration of the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo – we hope you’ll join us!

In association with the 2012 Alpine Loop Gran Fondo, thirteen riders signed on as Fundraising Participants; raising awareness and collecting contributions; and over 125 individuals, families and organizations made contributions in support of the event’s charitable mission.

The 2012 event attracted a total of $7,095 in direct contributions through the combination of fundraising participants’ efforts and additional contributions made through cycling participants during the event registration process.

(Soon, a full text list will be added.)

Beneficiaries of the 2012 event include: Prostate Cancer Awareness Project, Harrisonburg Northend Greenway via the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition, and the Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance Plan Our Park Fund.

BishopFoundation.org will be updated throughout the coming months as funds are directed to and put to great use by these amazing beneficiaries!

To everyone – volunteers, fundraisers, contributors, sponsors, and cyclists – who came together in support of the charitable mission of the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo, THANK YOU!

Mark your calendars!

Friday, September 14, 2012 5:30-9 p.m, BishopFoundation.org will host the 2012 Bike Capital Gala on the rooftop Taratsa at Dave’s Downtown Taverna in the heart of downtown Harrisonburg, Virginia. The party will kick off the special event weekend leading up to the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo cycling event.

The event includes happy hour featuring live jazz performers, drinks and passed appetizers from 5:30-6:30, a festive “Welcome” followed by dinner from 7-9 p.m.

The dinner menu will include Dave’s signature Greek Lasagna accompanied by Greek Salad, Garlic Bread, Green Beans in Herbed Tomatoes and Linguini with Vegetarian Sauce. Guests can pair their meals with selections from the beer and wine list. The meal will be complete with a variety of desserts, coffee and tea.

During dinner, Jeremiah Bishop will give a welcome address and kick off the festivities of the Gran Fondo weekend by recognizing the fundraising teams and individuals, announcing the total charitable funds raised and presenting the Bike Capital Community Awards.

All event ticket-holders will have a chance to win incredible prizes, including a wheel set by Stan’s NoTubes.com! All attendees will receive a goodie bag complete with a Cannondale casual t-shirt!

Guests are invited to wear comfortable attire; with past attendees sporting business casual and resort-classy, “casual-chic” to cocktail wear.

The party is a ticketed fundraising event. Advance tickets will be available through September 9, or until the event reaches capacity.

The cost to attend is $55/person and includes everything mentioned above. Tickets are now available online through the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo Registration page, or by using PayPal:

Tickets

1 Ticket $55.00 USD 2 Tickets $100.00 USD 3 Tickets $150.00 USD 4 Tickets $200.00 USD Team (5) $225.00 USD Team (10) $450.00 USD

Follow “Jeremiah Bishop’s Alpine Loop Gran Fondo” on Facebook, or check www.AlpineLoopGranFondo.com for updates.

The 2012 beneficiaries of the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo charitable mission include:
Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance Plan Our Park initiative
Harrisonburg Northend Greenway
Prostate Cancer Awareness Project
Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition

Thanks to Dave’s Downtown Taverna for providing the perfect outdoor venue for the 2012 Bike Capital Gala!

The theme of the 2012 Valley Fourth Parade is “Get Outdoors!”

The Alpine Loop Gran Fondo Presented by Prostate Cancer Awareness Project will represent BishopFoundation.org in the parade.

The Gran Fondo float will feature a mountain scene, and showcase three climbs from the 2012 routes: Reddish Knob, Shenandoah Mountain and Mole Hill, and other area landmarks. The float will be accompanied by flag-waving members of the Harrisonburg High School Key Club wearing custom designed cycling-inspired patriotic shirts. Alpine Loop Gran Fondo replica medals will be handed out to 200 lucky children, and everyone will receive Raw Revolution samples along the parade route.

A complete schedule of Valley Fourth Celebration events is available here.

Leading 2011 Fundraiser Barry Sherry Celebrates with Jeremiah Bishop

In support of the charitable mission of the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo, BishopFoundation.org has launched an online fundraising and incentive program to encourage and reward the incredible and dedicated efforts of fundraising participants.

The program employees the Personal Fundraising tool hosted on BishopFoundation.org. The tool allows anyone to sign-in, create a personalized page, set a fundraising goal and accept donations online.

“The web-based aspect of the Personal Fundraising app has the ability to increase the efficacy and impact of the 2012 fundraising efforts,” says Erin Bishop. “Last year, our fundraising participants were few in number, and yet very successful in the absence of a formal fundraising program. It’s exciting to introduce the new website and offer some great incentives for the fundraisers.”

To encourage new fundraisers to join the effort, BishopFoundation.org is offering two limited promotions: Giving an easy-to-acheive incentive, the first 25 fundraising participants to raise $25 will receive a special welcome packet including a pair of Cannondale Re-Spun cycling socks. An even more tempting incentive for cycling enthusiasts might be the offer of a free entry into any of the 2012 Alpine Loop Gran Fondo routes. Through July 1, up to 50 riders may commit to a minimum fundraising goal of $500. If they achieve the goal by September 1, and forego the first two incentive “prizes”, they’re guaranteed an entry into the 2012 event.

“The free-entry fundraising promotion has a lot of potential for the efforts of the event’s charitable mission, and opens a door to participation in the Gran Fondo,” explains Bishop. “I think it’s a great fit; The mission of the event is to raise funds and awareness for some very worthy causes including the Prostate Cancer Awareness Project and local cycling initiatives. If someone is committed to helping that mission, those are the people who should be front and center on the start line of the Gran Fondo,” she says.

Fundraising for the 2012 event is active and will continue through September 1, 2012.

“Cyclists are drawn to the challenge of the Alpine Loop, and the test of completing the route is inspiring.” Bishop says, “Channeling that excitement and energy toward the charitable mission can have limitless impacts.”

The full details of the fundraising program can be viewed at www.BishopFoundation.org/Incentives.

Harrisonburg DowntownRenaissance, a 501c3 organization, works in collaboration with private and public partners to develop and implement a comprehensive vision and master plan to revitalize downtown Harrisonburg into a prosperous and vibrant city center.

In support of the mission of Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance, the Foundation values the work and community contribution made possible by HDR and is excited to partner with the organization.

USA Cycling recently announced plans for its new Race Director Certification program and Race Director License. The initiative, which begins roll-out in 2012, will offer certification, continuing education opportunities and licenses to race directors in an effort to define and recognize this important sector of our membership and strengthen overall race quality.

“For purposes of the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo, I viewed this certification and licensure program as offering a variety of benefits to the event,” says Bishop. “In one regard, it offers streamlining of the event’s insurance and permitting process directly through USA Cycling. Though the Gran Fondo is not technically a “race,” the event relies on many of the same processes and permits as [a race event]. Similarly, an affiliation with the Race Directors Association and having the Director License will add to the resources available to me in my role with the Gran Fondo and my professionalism in that role.”

With race director certification, race directors will be able to tout training, professionalism and expertise when meeting with government officials and other event constituents. Through the race director’s association, professional race directors will automatically have an environment in which to share best practices. They’ll also enjoy professional development opportunities, specialized training and discounted permit fees. The licensed race directors will also be able to run for and vote for specific race director positions on the various USA Cycling Sport Committees.

“The race director certification program is important because it provides new and veteran race directors with a source of information dedicated to bike racing events and a platform to share best practices to help raise the overall quality of their event,” commented USA Cycling’s Race Director Certification Manager, Tara McCarthy.

USA Cycling will begin rolling out the new program over a two-year period beginning in 2012 with the new race director license available for the same price as a club license beginning immediately. Subsequently the race directors association will be formalized and Level C curriculum will be offered for online race director certification. Level B and National/International level curriculum will be offered by the end of the year.

Beginning in 2013, race director certification classes will be held in various locations around the U.S. and as the program grows certification Level B will be required for top-tier calendar race directors. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will then be required for race directors to maintain certification.

BishopFoundation.org is the online home for the 2012 Alpine Loop Gran Fondo fundraising program, including a web-based fundraising tool that allows participants to create their own fundraising pages, accept online donations and track individual fundraising goals. This user-friendly system will increase the reach and effectiveness of the fundraising program.

We’re honored you’ve visited BishopFoundation.org, and hope that you will support this Mission with us!