Welcome to the Santa Barbara Century - October 23, 2010

CHARITIES

The Santa Barbara Century bicycle ride is a benefit for charity.  This year all income after expenses will be distributed equally to two organizations, Bici Centro and Sports Outreach Institute.

Bici Centro is a project of the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition.  The organization is a low to no cost bike education program where community members learn to work on bikes in a multi-lingual, comfortable and fun setting. They help participants of all ages learn to rebuild good, used bikes and they maintain an inventory of used bike parts taken from otherwise broken bicycles. Bici Centro empowers its members by teaching bicycle repair, craft and creativity, as well as an appreciation of the independence and self-sufficiency the bicycle provides them.

Sports Outreach Institute is a faith-based organization organized in Santa Barbara (now headquartered in Virginia) that works with thousands of children living among the poorest of the poor in the slums of East Africa.  SOI conducts sports activities, feeding programs, vocational training, trauma counseling, education and help for AIDS victims in addition to other programs addressing critical needs.  SOI also has work in Mexico and in the inner cities of the U.S.