Trips for Kids' Israel Chapter Travels to Washington, D.C. and Participates in a Joint Bike Ride with its Northern Virginia Chapter

Within months of expanding beyond North America, Trips for Kids unites two of its chapters from two areas of the globe for a collaborative mountain bike ride

San Rafael, Calif. and Springfield, Va. - Trips for Kids (TFK), an international nonprofit serving at-risk youth, announces its first joint ride with participants from the TFK chapters in Beit Shemesh, Israel and Northern Virginia will take place on Monday, May 4, 2009 at 4 p.m. at Lake Accotink Park, Springfield, Va., 22150.

"We are thrilled to give young riders from the Israel and Northern Virginia chapters this opportunity to share their excitement for the outdoors and mountain biking," said Marilyn Price, founder of Trips for Kids. "We are certain that both groups will gain appreciation for the outdoors, mountain biking and other nationalities."

The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington's "Partnership 2000," a program dedicated to creating relationships between Israeli and North American Jewish communities on an individual, organizational and community level, made this ride possible by underwriting the trip for Trips for Kids Israel- Samson Riders Bicycle Club (TFK Israel-SRBC).

"The children visiting from Israel were struggling academically and had little direction in their lives when they joined Trips for Kids," explained Gilad Golani, liaison for Partnership 2000 in Washington, D.C. "They all demonstrated a great deal of self discipline to improve their scholastic efforts and earn their spot on the Washington, D.C. trip."

TFK Israel-SRBC chapter will take home five new bicycles donated by Trek Bicycle Corporation. As an official TFK sponsor, Trek generously supplies a starter set of bikes to each new TFK chapter.

This inspiring event adds to TFK's already rich history of enriching the lives of underserved youth. Through its 65 chapters, the 21-year-old organization has taken 50,000 underserved youth throughout the U.S., Canada, and Israel on day-long mountain bike adventures. In addition to a day of fun and healthy exercise, the young riders take home an increased awareness of their natural environment and strengthened self confidence.