[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 171 (Tuesday, October 16, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1420-E1421]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING KING RIDGE FOUNDATION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 16, 2018

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor King 
Ridge Foundation on the tenth anniversary of its founding. King Ridge 
Foundation has done incredible work for at-risk youth in our community 
and has been vital to the recovery from the October 2017 Wildfires.
  King Ridge Foundation was founded in 2009 by Levi Leipheimer and 
Carlos Perez to help at-risk youth. Since then, the Foundation has 
raised over 2 million dollars for this cause. A portion of this funding 
has come from Mr. Leipheimer's annual Gran Fondo, a bike ride known as 
the best day out on two wheels that brings people together from around 
the world, which also celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. 
Through the Gran Fondo and the work of King Ridge Foundation, Mr. 
Leipheimer has made our community stronger and more connected. He is 
dedicated to Santa Rosa and Sonoma County, as he has shown through his 
commitment to improving the lives of those in our community.
  King Ridge Foundation's main focus is supporting at-risk youth by 
raising awareness and money. The Foundation partners with local 
organizations including Social Advocates for Youth, Forget Me Not Farm 
and The B-Rad Foundation.
  In times of disaster King Ridge Foundation expands its mission to 
assist people in returning to normalcy. During the devastating 
wildfires our community has faced, King Ridge Foundation did just that. 
After the 2015 Valley Fire, King Ridge Foundation raised more than 
$60,000 for relief efforts in Lake County. After the October 2017 
Wildfires, King Ridge Foundation joined with Russian River Brewing 
Company in the Sonoma Pride partnership. The partnership has raised 
over 1.1 million

[[Page E1421]]

dollars and provided direct assistance to over 660 families.
  King Ridge Foundation and Sonoma Pride partnered with many other 
local organizations to help as many people as possible. Along with the 
Council on Aging, they provided $400,000 towards the purchase and 
installation of five manufactured homes. King Ridge Foundation and 
Sonoma Pride also partnered with NorCal Bike Sport to replace over 500 
children's bikes that were destroyed in the fire.
  Mr. Speaker, King Ridge Foundation, and Levi Leipheimer, have been 
crucial in the rebuilding of our community and for the well-being of 
our young people. It is therefore fitting and proper that we honor the 
Foundation on its tenth anniversary.

                          ____________________