| 01/03/2003 | A select group of approximately 30 middle and high school students from the Los Angeles Unified School District tested brand new mountain bicycles alongside New York City firefighter/Ground Zero rescue worker Dan Rowan and Los Angeles Police Department bike patrol officers. For the seventh consecutive year, the bicycles were donated by Acura, title sponsor of the Acura L.A. Bike Tour and will be used by students to participate in this year's Bike Tour in conjunction with the L.A. Marathon on March 2, 2003, sponsored by Honda.
Through the YESPAL School Cycling Clubs, an innovative partnership between the Youth Educational Sports (YES) and Los Angeles School Police Department, Police Activities League (PAL), students receiving the bicycles will be determined in February based on academic excellence and participation in the program. YESPAL educates students aged kindergarten through college on bicycling and safe cycling practices in addition to promoting academic excellence. The program aims to teach the values of commitment, dedication and discipline.
"Acura is to be commended for its selfless support of the youth in our community," said Marie Patrick, executive vice president of the City of Los
Angeles Marathon. "For our part, we are pleased to support the YESPAL program by offering its graduates free entry into the Acura L.A. Bike Tour."
Additionally, as the proud sponsor of the Los Angeles Marathon and Acura L.A. Bike Tour, Honda associates will raise funds for YESPAL through pledge drives and volunteering their time to ensure that the events run smoothly. "It is important to Acura to be involved in the communities in which we do business," said Dennis Manns, assistant vice president Acura national sales. "The YESPAL program and our sponsorship of the Acura L.A. Bike Tour give us the opportunity to give back to the community by acknowledging youth throughout the Los Angeles area who exemplify academic excellence and are striving to make a difference."
Youth Educational Sports, Inc. (YES), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, introduces bicycle safe practices to school students, K to college, through
bicycle safety programs during school hours and school cycling clubs during after-school programs. YES reaches up to 350,000 students annually with its bicycle safety program BLAST (Bike Lessons And Safety Training) and over 2,500 students in the YES School Cycling Club program. YES has an affiliation with the Police Activities League (PAL) for the purpose of creating after-school YES-PAL programs with the police officers as mentors.
The Acura L.A. Bike Tour will take place on March 2, 2003 starting at 6:00 a.m. The event is expected to attract 17,000 + cyclist. The Acura L.A. Bike Tour leads the way for the City of Los Angeles Marathon, presented by Honda.www.acura.com
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