Chicago Theater Bike Ride to Celebrate Theater Community at Foster Beach

The Third Annual Chicago Theater Bike Ride: Love Hard, a 501(c)(3) organization, will benefit The Actors Fund, a nationwide human services organization that helps all professionals in performing arts and entertainment (www.actorsfund.org), and TheEmergency Aid Fund, which has assisted community members with funeral and apartment fire expenses with proceeds from the first two Rides.

The Ride was created in September 2014 to memorialize Molly Glynn, actor and mother of two, with a mission to support fellow artists in times of greatest need.

This year, the Ride has dropped "Memorial" from its name. "It was a bit of a mouthful," said organizer Carmen Roman. "We will continue to honor all those who have come before while helping the survivors of a death or catastrophic event. We are here for our artistic community." Families and friends are encouraged to ride together.

In 2017, the Ride celebrates the lives and contributions of Jane Alderman, Freeman Coffey, Terry Domschke, Derek Dziak, Dan Frick, Glenne Headly, Xavier Joy, Richard Kordos, Linda Rae "K.D." Kweskin, Martha Lavey, Libby Adler Mages, Jacqueline Mohrlein, Patrick O'Gara, Alice Carol Perry, Ruth Ratny, Samuel G. Roberson, Jr., Joe Slowik, Fred Spector, Robert Elliott Towns, Andrea Urban, Alison C. Vesely, Lori Brown Wessely, Jen Gehr Whitten, and Howard Witt.

Organizers seek rider sponsorships, which include logo placement on the website, T-shirts and the race day banner: http://www.lovehardbikeride.org/sponsors.html.

WHEN:

Saturday, September 9, 2017. Ceremony at 11 a.m., first ride wave at 12 noon. Community potluck barbeque at 1:30 p.m.

WHERE:

This year's event will be held at Foster Beach, 5200 N. Lake Shore Drive at the Lake.

The 12-mile bike ride starts at Foster Beach, takes a short loop up to Osterman Beach and then south to the turn-around at North Avenue Beach, ending back at Foster Beach.

The Ride will host a benefit at Four Moon Tavern, 1847 W. Roscoe in Chicago, on Monday, July 31, 2017, 5-8 p.m. to kick off our season and help pay for the up-front expense of the ride. Four Moon generously donates a portion of food and drink sales and raffle tickets will be sold for prizes including a bike, theater tickets, bike gear and other items.

GOAL:

The 2017 fundraising goal is $15,000 and 200 riders. The ride has increased donations, ridership and gifts each successive year.

REGISTER: http://www.lovehardbikeride.org/donate.html

DONATE:

Suggested minimum ride donation is $25. Donations of any amount are encouraged even if not participating in the bike ride 2016 Angel Donors ($1,000-$5,000) NeAl Miller, David New, Rubicon Films.

GETTING THERE:

Using the CTA with a bike: www.transitchicago.com/assets/1/brochures/13sw005_Bike_and_Ride_Brochure_July_29.pdf

COMMITTEE DIRECTORS:

Organizer: Carmen Roman

Sponsorship and Fundraising: Sharon Wilson Miller, Amanda Hartley

Consultants: Lauri Dahl, Cecilie D. Keenan, Melanie Bishop

Participant Coordinators: Janice Pytel, Tamara McDonough

Family Liaisons: Kate Buddeke, Heather Meyers

Food Committee: James Leaming, Heather Meyers

Media Relations: Karin McKie

IT: Timothy Hendrickson, Vance Smith