LOS ANGELES, CA – On Sunday, October 30th, The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles hosted its 4th annual Tour de Summer Camps, the community-wide cycling fundraiser that raises money to provide scholarships to send more of kids to Jewish summer camp and helps them build lifelong connections to Jewish identity and values. The bike ride included four routes: 18-miles, 36-miles, 62-miles (metric-century) and 100-miles (century). With over 560 registered riders, this year’s Tour de Summer Camps set record-breaking achievements in terms of the number of riders and the amount of money raised. The ride began at Camp Alonim on the Brandeis-Bardin Campus of the American Jewish University in Simi Valley, California.
Jay Sanderson, President & CEO of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles said, “Sunday was a once-in-a-lifetime experience as we set the record in raising money for scholarships to send kids to Jewish summer camp.” He continued, “we couldn’t have predicted the weather – but in the end, the rain combined with the excitement of the riders made for an unforgettable day. This was our most successful Tour de Summer Camps to date. The community truly came together for an important cause.”
The goal of Tour de Summer Camps is to provide means for every child who wants to attend Jewish summer camp to do so. All proceeds from the ride will support summer camp scholarships to give more kids that lifelong connection to Judaism that Jewish summer camps provide, which in turn helps ensure the Jewish future – one of The Jewish Federation’s top priorities.
Echoing Jay Sanderson’s remarks, Rodney Freeman, Ride-Master of Tour de Summer Camps said, “The rain didn’t dampen anyone’s experience, in fact it may have even made it more magical. Every year, it is extraordinary to see all parts of our community – whether Reform, Conservative or Orthodox – come together for one common cause. Together, we are solving the scholarship needs in our community to allow every child the opportunity for Jewish summer camping.” He continued, “The participation and excitement has grown every year, and it has become an event not to be missed! The feeling of excitement and passion was definitely in the air.”
Picture Credit: Photo credit Howard Pasamanick Photography
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For more information, please contact Alana Weiner at AWeiner@JewishLA.org.