Capital One Bank Welcomed as Presenting Sponsor for 2014 Face of America Ride
Holbrook, New York (PRWEB) March 12, 2014 -- World T.E.A.M. Sports announced today that Virginia-based Capital One Bank will once again serve as presenting sponsor for the April 25-27 Face of America bicycle, recumbent and hand cycle ride from the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia to the historic battlefields of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Capital One Bank served as the presenting sponsor in 2013 and hosts a cycling team each year in the ride.
With an expected 600 participants in 2014, including 150 persons with disabilities, the annual bicycle ride is one of the highest-attended in the capital region. The two day, 110-mile ride brings together disabled veterans and able-bodied riders, riding in honor of the sacrifices members of the military have made in service to their country. Held annually since 2006, participating injured veterans ride hand cycles, recumbent bicycles and standard bicycles along scenic country roads north of Washington through Frederick to Gettysburg.
“I enjoy the challenge of the ride, but more importantly, I enjoy seeing old friends and meeting new ones,” said one participant of the 2013 ride. “It’s not a race, so I enjoy the ride and the journey. The event is fabulous for me and makes me feel happy.”
Participants in the Face of America ride side-by-side with veterans injured in wars and conflicts from the Korea and Vietnam Wars to Iraq and Afghanistan. Riding the same road together, the participants will arrive in Gettysburg Sunday afternoon, April 27 to a gala celebration at the Allstar Expo Complex.
“Capital One Bank values the service of veterans and their family members,” said Tony Pica, Northern Virginia Market President for Capital One Bank. “As a longstanding supporter of our military, we are proud to once again partner with World T.E.A.M. Sports to honor the sacrifices of our service men and women and support the Face of America ride.”
“World T.E.A.M. Sports is proud to partner with Capital One Bank for the Face of America ride,” said the non-profit organization’s CEO and President Van Brinson. “Having sponsors that we can count on each year allows us to spend more time pursuing our mission, and that is invaluable to an organization of our size. We intend to continue to build upon our relationship in the years to come.”
Beginning in 2000 as a cross-country bicycle ride for two teams of riders, the Face of America ride was redirected in 2002 to a Ground Zero to Pentagon three-day ride to honor the victims of the September 2001 attacks on America. Relaunched in 2006, the ride began with fewer than 100 participants, but exceeded 500 participants by 2013. That year, two metric century loop rides beginning and ending in Gettysburg were added, providing additional challenges for riders.
With the large number of participating disabled riders in 2013, more than 92 percent of those who rode indicated satisfaction in the event. One rider said of their Face of America experience, “I’m just inspired to want to do more.”
About Capital One Bank
Capital One Financial Corporation, headquartered in McLean, Virginia, is a Fortune 500 company with approximately 900 branch locations primarily in New York, New Jersey, Texas, Louisiana, Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Its subsidiaries, which include Capital One, N.A., and Capital One Bank (USA), N. A., offer a broad spectrum of financial products and services to consumers, small businesses and commercial clients. We apply the same principles of innovation, collaboration and empowerment in our commitment to our communities across the country that we do in our business. We recognize that helping to build strong and healthy communities – good places to work, good places to do business and good places to raise families – benefits us all and we are proud to support this and other community initiatives.
About World T.E.A.M. Sports
World T.E.A.M. Sports is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization chartered in North Carolina and headquartered in Holbrook, New York. Since 1993, World T.E.A.M. Sports has organized athletic events for disabled and able bodied citizens – mountain climbing, white water rafting, biking, and more. In all our events – whether mountain climbing, biking, white water rafting or many other sports – we include both disabled and able-bodied participants. Four things always happen at our events: 1) Disabled participants build self-confidence and physical fitness. 2) The disabled provide a role model for other disabled citizens, encouraging them to take up physical activities. 3) The disabled become a moving inspiration to other participants and to spectators when they see that disabled individuals can meet challenges beyond anyone’s imagination. 4) The disabled and able-bodied participants learn to work as a team to overcome those challenges. We change lives through sports.
Richard Rhinehart, World T.E.A.M. Sports, http://worldteamsports.org/, +1 855-987-8326 Ext: 4, [email protected]
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