“RIDE FOR THE CHILDREN” BENEFITS 13,000 HOMELESS ARIZONA CHILDREN - Event Expected to Draw 700 Bicycle Riders

April 23, 2009 – PHOENIX – The 12TH Annual Ride for the Children will hit the streets Sunday, April 26th at 7 AM, with over 700 bicyclists riding in the Real Gift Foundation fund-raiser. The ride brings awareness to the needs of the over 13,000 homeless children attending schools throughout Maricopa County. It’s a favorite charity event for Valley cyclists of all skill levels offering 3 choices - a 65-mile metric century, a 25-mile and 10-mile bike rides.

Ride for the Children is sponsored by Outback Steakhouse, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Albertsons, The Rogers Group, Landis Cyclery, Brown and Caldwell, the City of Phoenix, the City of Scottsdale and the Town of Paradise Valley. The Ride is the largest fund-raiser for The Real Gift Foundation and hopes to raise over $50,000 this year. Albertsons will be providing breakfast for all the riders and volunteers.

“If everyone contributes something, together we will break the cycle of poverty. Education is the key and schools need our support now more than ever,” said Conde Rogers, president of The Real Gift Foundation and Event Chair. “It all happens with one person at a time and the people in Phoenix have huge hearts!”

The ride route starts at 56th Street and Greenway Road and will take participants through Scottsdale, Phoenix, and Paradise Valley.

ABOUT THE REAL GIFT FOUNDATION:

The Real Gift Foundation (TRGF) is a volunteer-based 501(c)(3), non-profit organization committed to impacting the lives of the over 13,000 homeless children attending schools in Maricopa County in direct, positive and meaningful ways. They lead community projects to stock school libraries with books, fund mental health services, replace playgrounds, provide teachers and classrooms with essential learning tools, ensure that students have clothing and a backpack full of school supplies and much more. TRGF sponsors holiday toy drives and provides Thanksgiving dinner for thousands of students and their families each and every year. The Real Gift Foundation is committed to people participating in the privilege it is to make a difference in the life of a child so they can face the future with hope, anticipation and optimism.

CONTACT: For more information or to donate, contact:

The Real Gift Foundation

P.O. Box 12442 | Scottsdale, AZ 85267-2442 | 480-315-0600 | www.therealgift.org