Positive Tracks & Levi’s GranFondo

What is Positive Tracks?

Youth power in action! Positive Tracks plugs into Levi’s GranFondo as a fun and physical youth initiative based on the belief that everyone has something to offer to a social cause, whether it’s social media chops, leadership ability, artistic talent, or a great sense of humor. Positive Tracks challenges young people age 23-or-under to support the GranFondo and its community by building youth-powered event teams, or developing fundraising projects fueled by youth creativity – ranging from neighborhood relays, to fashion shows, flash mobs, or social media campaigns. On race weekend, the Positive Tracks Matching Grants Fund matches every dollar raised by Positive Tracks event teams and projects, DOUBLING the contribution made by young people to the Fondo’s multiple charities.

Win a Trip to the Dempsey Challenge

The top youth fundraiser (23 years or younger) will win a free trip for themselves and a guest to Maine to participate in the Dempsey Challenge. The Dempsey Challenge is Saturday, October 12 (5K and 10K run/walk) and Sunday, October 13 (cycling events), 2013 in Lewiston, Maine. [read more]

Positive Tracks at the GranFondo

The Positive Tracks Matching Grants Fund will match, dollar-for-dollar, all money raised by youth 23-or-under up to $20,000 for Levi’s GranFondo. For example, If you and/or your team raises $100 for the Fondo, Positive Tracks will give an additional $100 to the charities we support – that is $200 total going to Forget-Me-Not Farms, The Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope and Velo Street. Even cooler: for those of you fundraising on teams, we’re okay with adults being part of the mix; as long as your Positive Tracks team is “youth-powered”. This means: if at least half of your team is age 23-or-under, your entire team’s efforts will be matched by Positive Tracks.

Why work with age 23-or-under?

We believe in meeting kids on their own terms and turf to help young people make the world awesome! Positive Tracks cultivates kids’ own interests, skills and ideas, so that youth voices become essential and valued voices of community, laying the foundation for future civic participation. Good news is: Levi’s GranFondo has its own Positive Tracks coordinator, Stephanie Bastianon, who leads community outreach; providing support to youth participants, schools, youth groups, sports teams, etc., in building event teams and developing creative fundraising and visibility building strategies.  Stephanie serves as the youth link to the GranFondo, and also helps connect kids with adult mentors, whose support and participation is recognized and lauded as an essential part of the picture.

How can I participate?

  1. Register as a fund-raiser for the GranFondo. Visit http://www.levisgranfondo.com/fundraise and mark the box indicating that you are 23 or under.
  2. Can’t participate in the GranFondo but still want to be involved? You can create your own project, such as a neighborhood race or relay, or your own ride; and Positive Tracks will match the money you raise for the Fondo. Positive Tracks projects can happen year round and will still be matched by Positive Tracks on GranFondo day, October 5th.
  3. Support a Positive Tracks project or team. Individuals, corporate entities and foundations can: a) match funds raised by Positive Tracks fundraisers or give a one-time donation to increase what individuals and teams raise. Visit our fundraising page: http://www.levisgranfondo.com/fundraise and check out the Leaderboard in the upper right-hand of your screen to see who is participating; and b) become a local Positive Tracks Partner to help raise the total Positive Tracks Matching Challenge. Positive Tracks provides 20K to the GranFondo for its matching youth challenge, a local sponsor or philanthropy can raise this bar to 30K with a 10K Positive Tracks Challenge donation to the local event partner. For more information, contact Stephanie at stephanie@bikemonkey.net to become a local Positive Tracks Funding Partner.
  4. You can contribute to the national Positive Tracks Matching Grants Fund to support Positive Tracks at other charitable athletic events, too. For more information: contact Positive Tracks Founder, Nini Meyer, meyer.nini@gmail.com, or Jennifer Delaney, Positive Tracks Executive Director, jenniferdelaneyfogarty@gmail.com.

Get started or know more? Contact Stephanie Bastianon, Fundraising Coordinator for Levi’s GranFondo at stephanie@bikemonkey.net or (707) 548-2937.