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Globe and Mail
5 days ago
- General
- Globe and Mail
Rock the Ride USA's Eighth Annual Event Brings Trifecta of National Gun Safety Champions to Napa Valley
Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient Gabby Giffords, Moms Demand Action Executive Director Angela Ferrell-Zabala, and Brady President Kris Brown, Share Stage on June 28 Napa, CA - June 4, 2025 - Rock the Ride USA, an annual community event dedicated to raising funds and awareness for gun violence prevention, returns for its eighth year on June 28 in Yountville, CA with an all-star lineup on national leaders in gun safety. This annual bike ride and walk brings people together to take action on one of our country's most pressing issues – gun violence. With its inspiring motto — ' Community. Action. Change. Together. '— the family -friendly morning offers a choice of a 25 - mile bike ride, 15 - mile bike ride, 5.5- mile bike ride, or 3 - mile walk. Participants will finish in Yountville Community Park for a Burritos & Bubbles brunch, a silent auction, and the Voices of Change speakers panel featuring national and local leaders working to end gun violence. Returning title sponsor, Sutter Health's Dr. Robert Nordgren, chief medical officer of Sutter's Greater San Francisco Division stated, 'supporting the health and well-being of our communities – both inside and outside of clinical settings – is central to our mission. Rock the Ride provides a powerful platform to bring people together around the shared goal of creating safer environments for our families, friends and neighbors.' This year, Rock the Ride welcomes The Honorable Gabby Giffords, former congresswoman, gun violence survivor, and co-founder of GIFFORDS as one of the event's featured guests. After surviving a 2011 mass shooting in Arizona, Giffords became a national leader in the gun safety movement. In 2013, she co-founded what is now GIFFORDS, an organization committed to saving lives through legislative action and electoral support along with its nonprofit litigation arm Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. In recognition of her contributions, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2022. 'Having Gabby with us this year means so much to me, and to our community. Her story is extraordinary - the mental and physical comeback - and to now be leading a powerful national organization fighting to end the epidemic of gun violence is incredibly impressive. We will all walk away from Rock the Ride inspired to continue to take action,' stated Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-04), the inspiration behind Rock the Ride. The Rock the Ride organizing team is also thrilled to host Angela Ferrell-Zabala, who was named Moms Demand Action's first-ever Executive Director in 2023 following organization founder Shannon Watts' retirement. (Watts attended Rock the Ride in 2019.) As a grassroots organizer for many causes—including women's rights, civil rights, LGBTQ+ rights, immigration, reproductive rights, racial justice, and education—Ferrell-Zabala's outlook aligns with Rock the Ride's mission: "No action is too small. My background as an organizer has taught me that what matters most is showing up for your community. When we do that, every small effort builds toward meaningful change." Moms Demand Action, along with Students Demand Action and Everytown for Gun Safety, is the nation's largest grassroots volunteer network working to end gun violence. Moms Demand Action campaigns for new and stronger solutions to lax gun laws and loopholes that jeopardize the safety of families, educates policymakers and parents about the importance of secure firearm storage, and works to create a culture of gun safety through partnerships with businesses, community organizations, and influencers. Joining Rock the Ride for the first time is Brady, one of the nation's oldest gun violence prevention groups, and approaches ending gun violence in America in three critical ways: changing the laws, changing the industry, and changing the culture. Brady President, Kris Brown, who will be in attendance at Rock the Ride, has shaped the national conversation on gun violence as a public health crisis, launched the organization's groundbreaking safe storage program, End Family Fire, steered Brady's efforts to engage Black and Brown communities most impacted by gun homicide, and oversaw the fomation of Team ENOUGH - Brady's youth-led initiative founded after Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre in Parkland, FL. Rock the Ride also welcomes featured notable guest Rahsaan Bahati, a distinguished 10-time U.S. National cycling champion cyclist and the visionary founder of the Bahati Foundation (based in Los Angeles), created to inspire, empower, and uplift underrepresented youth. Through his foundation, Rahsaan has extended his influence on the African continent, forging collaborations with the Ghana and Burkina Faso Cycling Federations. Rashaan will participate in both the Friday evening dinner and Saturday's ride and Voices of Change Speakers series. New to the 2025 event is a Friday evening fundraiser dinner hosted at HALL Rutherford Estate & Caves, limited to 30 guests. 'We look forward to kicking off Rock the Ride with this exclusive dinner with the Gabby Giffords, Angela Ferrell-Zabala, Kris Brown and Rahsaan Bahati in attendance. This intimate experience will no doubt allow our guests to have access and opportunities to ask questions of these national leaders,' said Rebecca Kotch, co-founder of Rock the Ride. 'Ultimately, whether our guests are at the dinner, or on a 25-mile bike ride, the goal of the event is to educate and empower our audience on how they can make a difference in preventing gun violence.' Congressman Mike Thompson, whose advocacy inspired the event's creation, will lead the 25-mile ride. The day will feature remarks from representatives of partner organizations, including Arik Housley of Alaina's Voice Foundation Moms Demand Action, GIFFORDS, and Brady along with Dr. Mark Shapiro, physician and host of Explore the Space podcast, returning as event moderator for the Voices of Change speakers' panel. Event Background Rock the Ride USA was founded in 2018 following the mass shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida and The Pathway Home veterans' program in Yountville, CA. The event was born out of a bike riding conversation between Congressman Thompson, former Napa County Sheriff John Robertson, and event producer Rebecca Kotch. Later that year, the shooting at Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks tragically took the life of Napa native Alaina Housley. Her family's foundation, Alaina's Voice, became a beneficiary of Rock the Ride in 2019. Registration & Sponsors Event registration ranges from $35–$150 per person, and youth ages 17 and under participate free in the walk. Proceeds benefit the California Chapter of Moms Demand Action/Everytown for Gun Safety, Giffords Law Center, and Alaina's Voice Foundation. Participants are also able to fundraise for Brady United. In addition to Sutter Health, sponsors include: Trinchero Family Estates, DP&F Law, the Wine Institute, Mike Thompson for Congress, HALL Wines, Napa Valley Vintners, The Doctors Company, Cecilia Aguiar-Curry for Assembly, Clif Family Winery, Joelle Gallagher for Supervisor, Anne Cottrell for Supervisor, Dr. Erica Conway DDS, Mad Fritz Beer, Tomorrow Cellars, Frog's Leap Winery, Explore the Space, Napa Printing, Napa County Bicycle Coalition, Hilo Botanicals and several anonymous and in-kind donors. Facebook: Instagram: @rocktheride Website: Media Contact: Rebecca Kotch rebecca@ 323.806.5900 Media Contact Company Name: Rock the Ride USA Contact Person: Rebecca Kotch Email: Send Email City: Napa State: CA Country: United States Website:
Chicago Tribune
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Elgin News Digest: Play about Gabby Giffords shooting to be staged at ECC; ‘512: The Selena Experience' to be presented at the Hemmens
Play about Gabby Giffords shooting to be staged at ECC Elgin Community College Theatre's production of 'That Day in Tucson,' a drama about the mass shooting that critically injured U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, will be staged this weekend and next at the SecondSpace Theatre at the ECC Arts Center. Written by Guillermo Reyes, the play tells the story of Daniel Hernandez Jr., the intern who helped save the Giffornd's life during a 2011 shooting in a grocery store parking lot in Tucson, according to a news release. The shooter killed six people that morning and severely injured 13 others, including Giffords. 'The play addresses a serious and painful event, and it brings the issue of gun violence to the forefront, something that remains deeply relevant today,' production director Susan Robinson said in the release. 'But it's also a story about hope, family, perseverance and what we can accomplish when we work together for a better world.' Performances are scheduled for at 7:30 p.m. April 25-26 and May 2-3 and 3 p.m. April 27 and May 3. Tickets are $14 for adults, $12 for seniors and free for ECC students. An American Sign Language interpreter will be at the May 3 show. For more information and tickets, go to 'Glass on the Cutting Edge' presentation at the Elgin library Author Don Quant will speak about 'Glass on the Cutting Edge' and the history of the cut glass industry at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24, at the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin. Quant's program will put a special focus on Edward J. Koch, who started making cut glass in Chicago in 1899 and moved his factory to Elgin in 1911, according to the library's website. How Koch made his glass, where it was sold and how the people who operated the Elgin factory worked and lived will be discussed. There also will be examples of Koch cut glass. Quant's book on cut glass will be available for sale, the site post said. '512: The Selena Experience' will be presented Friday night at The Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin. (512: The Selena Experience) '512: The Selena Experience' to be presented at the Hemmens '512: The Selena Experience,' a tribute to singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 25, at The Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin. The production has been has performed at venues across the United States, at a Chicago Bulls game and for U.S. Marine Corps members serving in Okinawa, Japan, according to the Hemmens website. The band will perform Selena's hits including 'Como La Flor,' 'Amor Prohibido,', 'Si Una Vez' and 'Bidi Bidi Bom Bom.' Tickets range from $35 to $54. They are available at the Hemmens box office, by phone at 847-931-5900 or online at Gifford Park Association holding neighborhood cleanup Saturday The Gifford Park Association is holding a neighborhood cleanup starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 26, in the parking lot at St. Mary's Catholic School, 103 S. Gifford St., Elgin. Open to all volunteers, the city of Elgin will provide trash grabbers, trash bags and buckets, according to the association's website. Participants need to bring their own gloves. Organizers will divide up the neighborhood, allowing volunteers to work at their own pace. Refreshments will be served. Everyone who participates can enter a raffle for a magnolia tree. For more information, go to or email info@ PADS of Elgin holding Home Run 5K walk/run Saturday PADS of Elgin will hold its second annual Home Run 5K walk and run Saturday, April 26, starting in the parking lot of the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin. Packet are to be picked up from 7 to 8 a.m. with walk/run starting at 8:30 a.m., organizers said. The race route is through Elgin's northeast side. Proceeds will assist PADS in its mission of assisting people and families who are in need of housing by offering shelter, services and professional guidance, according to the event's website. The entry fee is $50 for anyone over the age of 12 and $25 for those 12 and younger. For more information, go to
