July 29, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

*Bi-Annual Fundraiser to support Kansas City’s Recycle-A-Bicycle Project *

*Kansas City, Missouri -Californos in Westport, located at 4124 Pennsylvania, hosts the Bi-Annual 816 Bicycle Collective Fundraiser, Sunday, August 16**th**. Doors open at 6PM and the event will end at midnight. The night will include musical performances by Lord of the Yum Yum, The Afterparty, Atilla, Andrew Connor, a raffle, silent art auction and more! All proceeds will go to benefit The 816 Bicycle Collective, Kansas City’s only non-profit recycle-a-bicycle project. *

Our benefit in December of 2008, successfully raised $1,650.50, which went to sustaining our programs through the winter months, and helped us to prepare for the now busier summer season. Our goal is to rescue and repair bicycles, increase bicycle ridership in the Kansas City area, and to offer educational services.

Since we attended the Southeast Regional Bikebike! in Atlanta during January of 2009, (which was a convention of community run bicycle shops,) we have…

-Doubled our physical shop space

-Organized a back-lot cleanup and are now utilizing the space for youth activities

-Purchased new specialty tools, with the addition of 10 new mini tool kits

-Gone from 5 voting collective members to 8

-Redistributed 71 bicycles (and counting) to a diverse range of people in the community

-Seen over 500 visitors (and counting) within the shop

We emphasize to our patrons the importance of giving back. Giving back can mean a variety of things, from money to printing services, volunteering to clean up, sort parts, or help another person with their bicycle. We rely completely on donations and community support, and all collective members are volunteers. These benefits help ensure that we will be able to continue to provide these services and the resources needed to those who rely on our facility, no matter what their financial situation is. Please help us in spreading the word about our organization or help us by making a donation.

We are currently in need/accepting the following donations (all are tax deductible)

*-Money for rent and utilities*

*-Items to raffle – gift certificates, coupons, art, or other merchandise*

-Bicycle wheels and complete bicycles, (especially kids bikes)

-Metric box wrenches and allen keys, or any specialty bike tools

-Bike cables, housing, chain lube, grease and degreaser

-Helmets and bike locks (cables, chains, u-locks)

-Front and rear flashing lights

-Bicycle repair stands

-Printing services

The 816 Bicycle Collective is a non-profit organization under The Greater Kansas City Bicycle Federation.

We are located at 3109 Troost Avenue, in the back of the Creative Minds Art Center.

For more information, media inquiries, or to find out what you can do to help –

Visit *www.816bike.org* or contact us at *The816bike@gmail.com* or Suzanne Hogan 505-231-589

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