The Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary Ride, celebrating its 28th year, is a fun fundraising event like no other. Proceeds go to local organizations serving the youth in our community. The Rotary Ride consists of a 3-day fully supported 200 mile ride culminating at a festive Finish Line Party featuring music, food, fun and friends.
Over the years we've raised more than $2,000,000 for local organizations! Each year we choose a primary beneficiary or cause to receive the largest percentage of the ride proceeds.
We are excited to announce that this year's Rotary Ride will focus on supporting the Aztecas Youth Soccer Academy. Azteca's mission is to reclaim the lives of at-risk youth that struggle with gangs, violence, poverty, and drugs in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties. The academy was established to provide an alternative to gang involvement and violence, using soccer as a unifying and empowering tool.
Read more about our partnership with Aztecas Youth Soccer Academy and how your generous support will be an investment impacting hundreds of children and their families providing positive benefit to our community for generations.
Our secondary beneficiaries this year include: Siena House, whose mission is to give new mothers experiencing homelessness a solid foundation as parents, and their babies the best start in life, by providing a supportive environment throughout pregnancy and a baby’s critical first year of development. And the Cabrillo College Student Housing Project Childcare Center which will support low-income families across Santa Cruz County. The center will address a critical childcare shortage by subsidizing care for 30–50 children and will also serve as a training hub for future early childhood educators.
And, as always, the ride proceeds will support other youth organizations in our community through the Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary club's Charities and Grants and High School Scholarship programs.
The History of the Sunrise Rotary Ride, aka, Jon & Ken's Most Excellent Adventure
In 1997 Jon Sisk and Ken Whiting created a biking fundraiser that over the years has grown into our current 3-day adventure. Our ride begins in the heart of the wine country in Healdsburg and takes us through the beauty of the Russian River, Sonoma County wine country, Tomales Bay to San Francisco, over the Golden Gate Bridge and down the coast to Santa Cruz. No large riding experience is needed, only a love for our beautiful state and a desire to have some fun while supporting youth in our community.
The ride is exceptionally well supported including all food, premier lodging, medical and sag. You can rest assured that you will be able to enjoy every bit of every day, while you do the ride that you want to do. The route incorporates rolling hills, some optional steeper hills, remote seaside riding and in-town riding. More seasoned riders can find great challenges each day, while entry level riders can build their experience and achieve their personal bests.
Day 1 – We take a bus from Santa Cruz to Healdsburg and set out just before lunch to ride 51 miles to Rohnert Park. Along the way, a fabulous lunch is served at Rick Hofstetter's river-side chalet on the Russian River. Lodging is at the newly rebranded Hotel Centro Sonoma Wine Country, Tapestry by Hilton A scrumptious spread of hand crafted hors d'oeuvres and beverages are served around the pool and hot tub at cocktail hour followed by a catered dinner and festivities.
Day 2 – Get an early start for an 88 mile ride from Rohnert Park to Pacifica. Lunch is served in Sausalito just before you cross the majestic Golden Gate Bridge. From there we ride through San Francisco then on to Pacifica where we spend Friday night at the Pacifica Lighthouse Hotel at Rockaway Beach. Dinner and celebration of the day's accomplishments is at Nick’s Restaurant.
Day 3 – 64 Miles from Pacifica to Santa Cruz, culminating in a finish line party at West Coast Community Bank (formerly Santa Cruz County Bank) (75 River St. Santa Cruz) where we join up with family and friends (all are invited) for food, drink, music raffles and auctions. Guests are encouraged to arrive at the finish line party by 12:30pm. Riders will gather on the Riverwalk adjacent to the Kaiser Permanente / Santa Cruz Warriors Arena at 12:45pm and triumphantly ride into the party at 1:00pm.
And best of all, everything is included!
The ride brings together like-minded individuals committed to supporting our youth and provides great opportunities for fun and networking. This event is a fundraiser with an all-volunteer crew. 100% of donations and sponsorships100 go to the charities.
The $600 registration fee covers all rider expenses including transportation to Healdsburg, 2 nights premier lodging, all meals, snack stops, happy hours, sag and first aid support, the 2025 commemorative ride T-shirt and admittance to the Finish Line Party.
Riders are required to fundraise a minimum of $1000 (in addition to the $600 registration fee) 100% of which goes to our designated charities. As part of the registration process, you will be guided through the creation of a personal fundraising web page that you can use to support your fundraising efforts. Although $1,000 is the minimum riders commit to raise, most will far exceed that amount with our easy to use fundraising platform.
For tips on how to mount an easy and successful fundraising effort, check out our guide Fundraising is as easy as 1, 2, 3.
The Sunrise Rotary Ride is limited to only 100 participants and always sells out so sign up today!
