Gina Miller

As most of you know, the Bend Don't Brake inaugural race last weekend
was a great success due to a whole myriad of people pulling together to
make it happen. It was of course Amanda Atwill's brainchild and over a
year ago a small group of us sat down to sketch out what the race would
look like. Part of the plan was to make this a charitable event. None
of us took a "cut" from this race - we all volunteered our time to make
it happen. And thanks to Desert Orthopedics sponsoring the event as
well, the result of that was that we had almost enough money to fund a
$1500 scholarship for a high school junior (FreshAirSports made up the
difference) through The Center Foundation.

The Center Foundation has a bunch of programs but the scholarship
program is one of my favorites - we get to give away as many $1500
junior scholarships as we can find sponsors for as well as one or two
$5,000 scholarships for high school seniors (this year we had two!).
The progress is a rigorous one and involves written essays and
interviews in front of an adult panel. I'm constantly amazed not only by
what these kids accomplish by 17, but how poised and confident they are
on top of their 4.0+ GPAs, sports and community service and student
leadership involvement. If anyone ever wants to volunteer to be a part
of these interviews, it is really a cool experience.

Our scholarship was given to a student from Bend High School, Keenan
Molner. He sent me a thank you note that I thought I'd pass along to
everyone in the cycling community. His career goal is to marry his
passion for engineering with his love of theater production - he
basically wants to run a Cirque du Soliel (and I've told him in 10 years
we're going to come find him for some freebie tickets!). Even though he
addresses this letter to me, it's was Amanda's vision and really
everyone who participated in the event's scholarship - if you guys
didn't pay to race, we wouldn't have been able to fund a scholarship.
His thank you note is below...

It's nice to see an event come full circle and it's even nicer when that
includes a really positive outcome like helping a kid study at Harvard
(where he's going for six weeks this summer!).

Thanks,
Gina

Gina Miller,

I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything
you have done for me. Providing me with the Center Foundation Junior
Scholarship really is a big step as I go to pay for college. You are an
incredibly generous woman, and I am truly honored to receive this award.
With this scholarship, I plan on going to an engineering school to major
in Electrical Engineering and minor in Theater. And yes, you will have
as many tickets to Cirque Du Soleil as you want, If I ever have the
opportunity to work for them.

I cannot express in words what this award means to me. It has opened
gates to my future that would not be open without it. You are incredibly
generous, and I can't say it enough. I hope all of your upcoming events
go as well as the Bend Don't Brake race, and I look forward to keeping
in touch with you! Thank you for all you have done for me!

Sincerely, Keenan Molner.




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