Doing Good while Having Fun
From grassroots motorcycle rides to nationwide corporate partnerships, Ride for Kids has been making a charitable impact for over 40 years. In this episode, host Heather Wilson Schiltz sits down with Alissa Karas, Director of Peer-to-Peer Fundraising at the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF), to explore how the powersports community has raised more than $70 million to fight the deadliest form of childhood cancer: brain cancer.
They discuss the legacy of Ride for Kids, why adding a charitable component to motorsports events is a win-win for organizers and the community, and practical tips for anyone looking to get started in fundraising, whether youβre an individual rider, a local club, or a major brand.
π§ What Youβll Hear:
β’ How the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation started in the motorcycle industry and grew into a national nonprofit
β’ The 41-year legacy of Ride for Kids and the $70 million riders have raised for research and family support
β’ Honda, Comoto, Progressive, and other powersports leaders setting the standard for corporate giving
β’ Creative, family-friendly ways that Ride for Kids engages families they support at races and community events
β’ Best practices for integrating charity into your motorsports event and why it matters for PR
β’ Easy fundraising tools, software and ideas to help riders and organizers get started
β’ Why storytelling and personal connection are key to successful fundraising
β’ How to evaluate charities with resources like Charity Navigator before donating
β’ The vision for Ride for Kids and the role of the next generation of riders in continuing the mission
π² Connect with Alissa Karas and PBTF
π Learn more about the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and the Ride for Kids programΒ
π Follow on Facebook or InstagramΒ
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Want More Resources?
Check out High Gear Success’ Fuel For Thought training for motorsports event organizers on Generating Positive PR
π Subscribe for more stories and strategies from inside the motorsports world
“I think the easiest way to get into fundraising is taking something that you’re passionate about and finding a cause that you’re passionate about and trying to merge those two things together, right? So in this instance, for motorcycling, I always say put your miles to mission, right? So that is our mission. That can be something else you’re really passionate about.
I understand there’s an incredible amount of causes out there that need time and attention. And I always feel incredibly honored when someone chooses to come to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and Ride for Kids, because, again, we know there are so many things that people can be supporting out there.
Taking something you’re passionate about, in this case, it could be motorcycling. You could be a long distance rider that wants to plan a ride by yourself and get people to donate however many miles you ride. We’re happy to set up sort of fundraising resources and tools for somebody like that. You could be someone in a group that your club already has a Saturday ride once a month and you want to be able to ask your friends and family to be able to support a charitable component of that. We have resources to support in that space.”
-Alissa Karas, Director of Peer-to-Peer Fundraising at the PBTF
