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Dear Valued SB250 Sponsor,
On June 28th & 29th 2024, the Suzannah Smiles foundation will be hosting its 13th annual road cycling event, the Spina Bifida 250 (SB250). This event is a 250-mile bicycle ride from McAllen to San Antonio in the heat of the Texas summer.
The SB250 continues to grow as a premier cycling event in Texas. In the last 12 years, the SB250 has raised over $425,000 to help Texas children and families impacted by spina bifida. All proceeds of the event are donated directly to families impacted by spina bifida through scholarships and grants as well as to Spina Bifida Texas (SBTX). SBTX is often the first resource for families after a spina bifida diagnosis. The SB250 generates a sizable portion of SBTX’s operational capital for the year. With your help, the 13th edition of the SB250 will allow us to serve more families across Texas.
This year, Suzannah Smiles will be investing in improved marketing for the SB250 by developing a new website and expanding our social media outreach. We are excited to provide improved platforms to share your brand and contributions.
About Suzannah Smiles: Suzannah Smiles’ mission is to spread awareness of spina bifida and to raise funds to support programs that provide services for those affected, so that we can empower them to live a barrier-free life and reach their fullest potential.
About spina bifida: It is estimated that spina bifida affects 2 out of every 1,000 births in Texas, nearly twice the national average. Spina bifida is a birth defect that occurs when the lower end of the spinal cord does not form properly in the developing baby. Paralysis, loss of bowel and/or bladder control, brain damage and learning disabilities are among the many issues associated with this complex disability. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), if every woman of childbearing age (15-44) would take a daily vitamin containing 400mcg of folic acid, the incidences of spina bifida would be reduced by 70%.
About the SB250 Ride: The SB250 bicycle ride starts in McAllen, TX on June 28th and ends in San Antonio, TX on June 29th. Participants will be cycling up to 267 miles over two days through the grueling South Texas heat to raise funds through sponsorships and donations. All profits will go directly to families impacted by spina bifida and to Spina Bifida Texas. Information can be found at: https://www.suzannahsmiles.org/ or by contacting Tommy Smith, Executive Director of Suzannah Smiles at (281) 408-5858, or sponsorship@suzannahsmiles.org.
Our goal for 2024 is to raise $150,000.00. Please consider supporting our effort to assist Texas families living with spina bifida by sponsoring, volunteering and/or participating in the event.
Please be advised that all donations/sponsorships must be paid in full by May 1st to guarantee your company logo placement on the cycling kits. For your logo to be included on banners and signage for the event, all donations must be submitted by June 1st.
Sincerely,
Casey Swanson —
CEO/President Suzannah Smiles
Suzannah Smiles is 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation.
To underwrite the cost of all gift cards presented to children and adults impacted by spina bifida at the pre-ride Spina Bifida Family Meal in McAllen prior to the start of the ride, and at the post ride Spina Bifida Family Meal and celebration in San Antonio at the finish line.
To underwrite the overall cost of volunteer housing. This will include all fees paid by the organization to hotels for volunteers in McAllen, Freer and San Antonio.
To underwrite the cost of our 2024 scholarship program. We will be presenting four $2500 scholarships at the San Antonio Spina Bifida Family Dinner at the end of the ride to young adults impacted by SB who are attending a university, college, and/or trade school.
To underwrite the cost of transporting the Houston area riders and their bikes to McAllen and back to Houston from San Antonio. This will include bus fees and tips for the drivers. The bus is used throughout event as an extra SAG as well as transportation from Freer High School to hotels.
To underwrite the overall cost of rider support. This will include all monies paid by the organization to hydrate and feed riders throughout the two-day event. This will include all snacks, food, water, etc. that is consumed on course by the participants and held in the SAG vehicles.
To underwrite the overall cost of the safety team. This includes event insurance, cyclist insurance, EMS costs, hotels, fuel and first aid supplies for all participants as well as any required police escorts.
To underwrite the overall cost of building the participant SWAG bags. This includes the bags themselves as well as all purchased/donated items to fill them.
To underwrite the cost of the McAllen Spina Bifida Family Dinner. We bring families of those affected by spina bifida together the evening before the start of the ride to enjoy a meal and celebrate them. This is where some of the Summertime Gift Cards are given out to children impacted by spina bifida in the RGV.
To underwrite the cost of the San Antonio Spina Bifida Family Dinner. This occurs at the finish line of the event in San Antonio. Families from Central Texas impacted by spina bifida come together to share a meal and to be celebrated at the finish of the ride. This is also where some of the Summertime Fun Gift Cards are presented to the kids impacted by spina bifida in Central Texas.
To underwrite the overall cost of the processing fees charged by the credit card companies.
To underwrite the overall cost of the captains’ kits. This will include all monies paid by the organization to provide kits for the captains. All captains wear designated jerseys to ease identification of them as captains by the riders in case they need support or instruction.
To underwrite the overall cost of the facility used for the packet pick-up and the starting line. This will include all monies paid by the organization for rooms and supplies to welcome all riders on Thursday as well as see them off on the first morning of the ride.
To underwrite the overall cost of all promotional materials. This will include all monies paid by the organization for signage used to advertise ride across the state as well as signage used throughout event to advertise sponsors and guide riders throughout the event.
To underwrite the overall cost of rider hydration support. This will include all monies paid by the organization to hydrate and fuel the riders throughout the two-day event. Hydration-specific products are needed for all participants as temperatures are regularly over one hundred degrees. Salt tabs, electrolyte mixes, and pickle juice are all staples on the SB250.
To underwrite the overall cost of our annual t-shirts. This will include all monies paid by the organization to design, ship and provide t-shirts to all participants and volunteers.
To underwrite the overall cost of SAG support for the bikes. This will include all monies paid by the organization to keep riders on the road with mechanical support as needed. This includes basic maintenance support such as shifting adjustments, flat repairs with tubes and/or sealant refills as well as hotel and fuel support.
To underwrite the overall cost of maintaining ice for the participants and volunteers as well as cooling towels for all participants. With temperatures over one hundred degrees every year, ice is crucial to keep everyone safe.
To underwrite the overall cost of rider support from the lead and follow vehicles. This will include all monies paid by the organization to rent, fuel, and stock the follow trailers with necessary essentials such as ice chests, two-way radios, etc. Each pace group has one trailer and two vehicles for support.
To underwrite the overall cost of rider support from the lead and follow vehicles. This will include all monies paid by the organization to rent, fuel, and stock the follow trailers with necessary essentials such as ice chests, two-way radios, etc. Each pace group has one trailer and two vehicles for support.
To underwrite the overall cost of rider support from the lead and follow vehicles. This will include all monies paid by the organization to rent, fuel, and stock the follow trailers with necessary essentials such as ice chests, two-way radios, etc. Each pace group has one trailer and two vehicles for support.
To underwrite the overall cost of rider support from the lead and follow vehicles. This will include all monies paid by the organization to rent, fuel, and stock the follow trailers with necessary essentials such as ice chests, two-way radios, etc. Each pace group has one trailer and two vehicles for support.
To underwrite the overall cost of rider support from the lead and follow vehicles. This will include all monies paid by the organization to rent, fuel, and stock the follow trailers with necessary essentials such as ice chests, two-way radios, etc. Each pace group has one trailer and two vehicles for support.
To underwrite the overall cost of the Houston participants’ travel day to McAllen. This will include all monies paid by the organization to feed the Houston crew as they travel to the RGV. This will include drinks on the buses as well as breakfast at Buc-ee’s and lunch at the Backstreet Café.
To underwrite the overall cost of our rolling rest stop. This will include all monies paid by the organization to rent the trailer, porta-potties, as well as fuel for the rolling rest stop.
To underwrite the overall cost of the Friday night spaghetti dinner at the end of day one of the ride. This will include all associated costs with the rental and use of the Freer High School as well as all food costs.
To underwrite the overall cost of the finish line medals given to all participants as well as the spina bifida kids and adults at the finish line.
To underwrite the overall cost of lunch in Hebbronville on day one of the ride for the participants and volunteers. This will include all food as well as a donation to Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish for allowing us to use their facilities.
To underwrite the overall cost of breakfast in Freer on day two of the ride for the participants and volunteers. This will include all food as well a donation to Freer High School for allowing us to use their facilities.
To underwrite the overall cost of lunch in Jourdanton on day two of the ride for the participants and volunteers. This will include all food as well as a donation to the United Methodist Church for allowing us to use their facilities.
To underwrite the overall cost of the rest stop and second breakfast in San Isidro on day one of the ride for the participants and volunteers. This will include all food as well as a donation to the First Baptist Church for allowing us to use their facilities.
To underwrite the overall cost of the early breakfast on day one of the ride for the participants and volunteers.
To underwrite the overall cost of the rest stop in Tilden on day two of the ride for the participants and the volunteers. This will include all food as well as a donation to the Tilden Baptist Church for allowing us to use their facilities.
To underwrite the overall cost of putting on the SB250. This will include all costs incurred in the planning of the event plus the costs of the cycling kits which are included in event registration for participants.