ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCED: CIARA TO PERFORM AT HEARST CASTLE!!

We are so excited to announce that this year at the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle, we will be celebrating at the finish line with an exciting performance from Grammy-winning artist, Ciara!

Ciara, one of People Magazine’s Most Beautiful People, brings her high-powered sound and energy to this great event! Ciara is best known for hit songs “One Two Step,” “Goodies,” “Like a Boy,” and her latest hit, “Love Sex Magic”. She has collaborated with some of today’s hottest musicians such as Justin Timberlake, Missy Elliot, Ludacris and Ne Yo. Bursting onto the music scene in 2004 with her album Goodies, Ciara has evolved into a hit-making, boundary-breaking musician with her just-released (and appropriately titled) third album, Fantasy Ride. Be sure to catch Ciara as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live, this Saturday, May 9!

So tune in to SNL for a sneak preview and register for the Challenge if you haven't already done so! It's bound to be an unforgettable day!

Fundraising Tip of the Week: Think Outside Your Circle When Forming an Email List

So you've decided to jumpstart your fundraising efforts with an email campaign. Great! Before you can personalize each of your emails, you need to figure out who to email. Mom and Dad, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, grandparents, your 3 best friends, and a few colleagues...done, right!? Not if you really want to meet that fundraising goal. Remember, it is not your decision to make if someone doesn't want to donate, so what harm can a heartfelt email do? Here are a few people to think about that might not have crossed your mind yet.

Your babysitter, coffeeshop server, dry cleaner, landlord, mail carrier, lawyer, dentist, tutor, etc. These are the people you see everyday and may not have even thought to reach out to. You never know if an acquaintance has a particular tie to the Best Buddies mission, or if they are looking to donate to something. Asking can't hurt and you will probably be surprised at the response you get!

Your long lost hometown and college friends who you have (unfortunately) lost touch with. Oh, the good old days of your youth. Meals in dining halls, cramming for tests until the sun rises, and staying out at the local bars, dancing until your feet hurt...bring back some memories? Remember the people who you were with? When was the last time you spoke with them. This is a great time to give your old friends a quick update on your life, and possibly reconnect to relive some of those great times.

Members of any groups, teams or organizations that you are a part of. From your after-work softball team to your church to your book club, members of these groups are great people to email for donations. They know you in one realm of your life, and share that common intrest, and will probably enjoy learning something new and cool that you are a part of. They will love to support you and the cause you are riding for!

With any email that you write, be sure to spend the entra few minutes to add a personal touch. Throw in a fun memory or compliment how they do so much for the community. These small details (even a simple sentence!) can make a huge difference. Check out the Fundraising Handbook for sample letters/emails to help you get started! Happy emailing!

Don't have a fundraising handbook? No problem. Just email hccoach@bestbuddies.org and we'll get you one right away.

Hurry Up and Register!

DON'T MISS OUT! - EARLY REGISTRATION RATE OF $1,250 EXPIRES TOMORROW!

The Alumni Rate, a special commitment of $1,250, is available for only one more day! The early rate will expire tomorrow, Tuesday, March 31, at midnight.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to be a part of an experience of a lifetime! The Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle. This year the five-star ride will take place on Saturday, September 12. The ride is filling up faster than ever, so go ahead and reserve your spot! REGISTER TODAY!

Join us at the Best Buddies California Festivals of Friendship

We've been so fortunate to have your support and participation in past years, and because of your incredible fundraising efforts, Best Buddies is able to provide programs which help improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities through one-to-one friendships and integrated employment opportunities. As an active supporter, we thought you might like to check out Best Buddies' mission in action:

March is Best Buddies Month! In honor of this, Best Buddies California is holding its annual Festivals of Friendship in Berkeley, Los Angeles, Inland Empire and San Diego. These events feature activity and vendor booths, celebrity guests, live entertainment, free food and beverages and a spirited one-mile friendship walk.

Join Our Group Ride! Join Hearst Castle Ride Coach, Jeremiah Angel, on a group ride to the Best Buddies Bay Area Festival of Friendship on March 14. Jeremiah will take you on a 1.5 hour easy-to-moderate paced ride through the beautiful Berkeley Hills to the Festival in time for the start of the celebration. This is sure to be a great day where you can combine training for the ride and experience the Best Buddies' mission first-hand!

WHAT: Audi Best Buddies Challenge group ride to the Best Buddies Bay Area Festival of Friendship led by Ride Coach, Jeremiah Angel

WHEN: Saturday, March 14. Ride will depart Sproul Plaza at 10:30 am sharp.

WHERE: University of California, Berkeley, Sproul Plaza, 2490 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA 94720

Please RSVP to JeremiahAngel@bestbuddies.org as soon as possible to confirm your attendance and receive more details about the group ride!

Watch Team Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital on the road to the Hearst Castle

THANK YOU ALL!!!

Dear Riders,

What a great ride! The fourth Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle proved to be the most successful fundraising event in the history of our organization. We can’t take credit for that--it’s you who made that possible.

You should be proud of your commitment to people with intellectual disabilities. Your hard work fundraising and training for the ride proved that you care passionately about Best Buddies and our mission. This event would not have been so successful without your contribution.

Based upon your recommendations last year, we worked hard to enhance and improve the ride overall in the key areas you recommended. For example, last year many riders suggested that we invite professional cyclists to participate in the ride and that we should look for a classic rock group to perform. As a result professional cyclists from teams, T-Mobile, CSC, Kona, Tibco and Jelly Belly participated this year along with Cheap Trick as our musical entertainment.

How did you feel about the professional cyclists participation or Cheap Trick? In an effort to continue to improve, please take a few minutes to fill out our anonymous SURVEY . The results generated from the surveys help us make improvements and enhance all aspects of our future rides. Once you've completed the survey you'll be sent a confirmation email containing directions to the picture gallery of this year's ride.

Whatever the distance you rode, and whatever the amount you raised, take heart in knowing you have made a difference in the lives of so many people with intellectual disabilities that Best Buddies serves. Thank you so much for your support of people with intellectual disabilities. We are incredibly grateful and look forward to seeing you next year!

Speaking of next year the 2008 ABBC: HC will be on September 6, the weekend after Labor Day. We know that it’s a long ways off, but if you had fun go ahead and REGISTER !

With respect and admiration,

Mark Lewis, Ride Director

Michael Collins, Ride Operations Director

Richard Fries, Marketing Director

Dylan Taylor, Regional Ride Director

Alan Sakell, Rider Financial Coordinator

RYAN TREBON JOINS THE ABBC: HC!!!

Mountain bike and cyclocross star Ryan Trebon, who just captured the Short Track National Championship will join the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle on September 4. To join Ryan in making a difference visit http://www.bestbuddieschallenge.org/.

More information coming.

Axel Merckx to the 2007 ABBC: HC!

Axel Merckx to ride in the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle
T-Mobile teammates Aaron Olson, Mari Holden, Kimberly Baldwin and Kim Anderson to join

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Olympic medalist Axel Merckx, the son of legendary Eddy Merckx, will wrap up his season at the fourth Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle on September 8 where he’ll be joined by his T-Mobile teammates.

The 34-year-old Belgian is currently competing in his ninth Tour de France, and is the reigning Olympic Bronze medalist and winner of a stage in the 2000 Giro d’Italia. In 1998 he finished 10th in the Tour and in 2005 took a memorable, solo victory in stage five of the prestigious Dauphiné Libéré. His father, Eddy, is widely considered to be the greatest cyclist of all time, winning both the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia five times.

The Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle (ABBC: HC) is a five-star, charity cycling event chaired by California First Lady Maria Shriver that supports Best Buddies International, a non-profit dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. All of the money raised by participants in the ABBC: HC goes directly to Best Buddies programs.

Beginning at the Chateau Julien Winery in Carmel, Calif., participants head 100, 62 or 15 miles down a stunning stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway to the Hearst Castle where a one-of-a-kind celebration awaits them. At the finish riders enjoy a complimentary hot shower, professional massage, and a gourmet lunch with an open bar at the beach below the Hearst Castle. Then, they head up to the Hearst Ranch for a gourmet BBQ that’s followed by a private concert by rock legends Cheap Trick.

Joining Merckx at the event will be his American teammate Aaron Olson. T Mobile will also send members of its world class women’s team, including Mari Holden, Kimberly Baldwin and Kim Anderson. Holden is a past Olympic silver medalist and long-time Best Buddies supporter. This will be her third year participating in the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle. Baldwin is a three-time U.S National Time Trial Champion and the talented Anderson is a three-time member of the U.S. World Championship team

For more information on the ABBC: HC or to join Merckx, Holden, their teammates and hundreds of others in making a difference visit www.BestBuddiesChallenge.org or call 800.718.3536.

About Best Buddies
Best Buddies ® is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment.

Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant, international organization that has grown from one original chapter to more than 1,300 middle school, high school, and college campuses across the country and internationally. Best Buddies programs engage participants in each of the 50 United States. The organization has accredited international programs on six continents with additional country programs under active development. Best Buddies six formal programs – Best Buddies Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e -Buddies® and Jobs – will positively impact more than 350,000 individuals this year.


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Training Ride postponed until 5/12, Best Buddies getting ready for Hyannis Port

Training Ride postponed

The BB training ride that is scheduled for this Saturday, May 5 has been postponed until next Saturday, May 12. We apologize for any inconvenience to any one's schedule and look forward to having you all join us then.

That ride will leave from Fort Baker, just across the Golden Gate Bridge, at 10 am for two to three steady hours of riding through the Marin hills. If anyone has a route suggestion for this ride or for future rides, please let us know. Additionally, if you have your own ride and would like to let everyone know about it, email it to us or comment with all the details here.

Find out more at Training Rides

Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port only two weeks away

Best Buddies supporters in the North East are gearing up for the return of the Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port on Saturday, May 19. Now in its eighth year, the 2007 ride will be one of the biggest fundraising events in Best Buddies history as over 700 cyclists will take to some of the most beautiful New England roads for 90 or 20 miles from Boston to Cape Cod in support of enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. Following the ride, participants will enjoy a clambake and a concert by the one-and-only Rick "Jessie's Girl Springfield.

New title sponsor

After many great years of wonderful support by Volvo, the BBC: HC has a new title sponsor, Audi.

While we'll fill you in on all that means to you shortly, check out their cars at here in the meantime. Just watch your keyboard doesn't get too much drool on it.