More than 50 riders in this Saturday’s Rodman Ride for Kids–more than ever before–will be riding to support the Wonderfund, the charity serving children supported by the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families.
Between the 14 members of the new Wonderfund Rodman Team and 40 riders from longtime Rodman supporter Ernst & Young LLP (EY), as many as 54 riders will be biking 25, 50, or 100 miles to raise donations for the Wonderfund.
Additionally, the Baystate Financial Services Charitable Foundation is donating $25,000 to support the Wonderfund through the Rodman Ride, proceeds from its charitable golf tournament that has provided more than $2 million worth of donations to date.
Massachusetts First Lady Lauren Baker, who serves as vice chairwoman of the Wonderfund, will be greeting riders between 9 a.m. and noon Saturday (September 22) at the ride’s beginning and end, 101 Washington Street in Foxborough.
“We are so grateful to all the riders who will be out there supporting our kids, and we hope they will have a safe and happy trip,’’ Mrs. Baker said. “We’ve also so appreciate everything the Rodman Ride for Kids has done for us for years, as the Wonderfund and for our predecessor, the DCF Kids Fund, not just raising hundreds of thousands of dollars but also helping us make all kinds of connections and partnerships with organizations where our kids can get life-changing enrichment opportunities.’’
Wonderfund Executive Director Jennifer Kitchenham said: “We are thrilled that we will also have another Wonderfund connection to this year’s ride: Breanna Hewson, a former foster child and fund beneficiary who was adopted by a wonderful mother through DCF, will be singing the National Anthem at the start of all three rides. Breanna has the voice of an angel, and she has been such a dynamic and inspiring ambassador for the Wonderfund and an example of what we can help young people like her who’ve been supported by DCF dream and achieve.”
The Rodman Ride for Kids is America’s number-one single-day athletic fundraiser solely supporting at-risk kids and has raised more than $134 million since 1991. The event includes 25-, 50- and 100-mile routes that all begin and end at 101 Washington Street in Foxborough. The umbrella matching-gift charity raises funds through corporate sponsors, foundations, individual donors, and riders, for youth focused social-service organizations that support at-risk children. The Ride adds a match of up to 3 percent when affiliated charities meet their predetermined fundraising goal.
About the Wonderfund
The Wonderfund, a private, nonprofit, 501(c)(3) federally tax-exempt charity, was formerly known as the DCF Kids Fund before its relaunch in June 2017. The Wonderfund has a vision to provide resources and opportunities, above what state funding can support, for the more than 50,000 children engaged with DCF on any given day:
- Emergency and transitional items: Children placed in DCF care, some with no more than the clothes on their backs, are given a duffel bag that contains clean, seasonally appropriate clothing, new pajamas, toiletries, and an age-appropriate item of comfort such as a teddy bear.
- Enrichment opportunities: All children involved with DCF are eligible for funding from the Wonderfund to access enrichment activities like summer camp, arts & music lessons, sports, SAT preparation, or vocational training that can change the trajectory of their lives for the better.