Q: How long has your organization been involved with the UPAF Ride for the Arts, sponsored by Miller Lite?
A: Well over a decade!
Q: How did your organization first get involved with the Ride?
A: Aurora Health Care's involvement with the Ride, is just an example of our on going commitment to the communities we serve. The Ride also provides a good way for Aurora to promote health, fitness, exercise, and family.
Q: Why do you choose to support the United Performing Arts Fund through the Ride?
A: The arts are a very important part of the community. Our caregivers who live and work in the area want to get involved, and again the tie in with the health effort and wellness.
Q: Do you feel it is important for your company to stay involved in the community? If so, why?
A: It's the nature of our work. Touching lives, helping people live well, healing. Our caregivers take this commitment seriously and help in many ways and with many organizations to make our community a better place in which to live.
Q: If your organization has a team, please tell us a little about what that represents to your employees.
A: We are very fortunate here at Aurora to have caregivers who are proud to represent Aurora and get involved in the world around them. Caregivers tell us that it is very important that they have the opportunity to be involved in the communities where they live and work.
Q: What, if anything, does supporting the Ride provide your organization and your employees that other nonprofit charities may not?
A: As a not-for-profit organization ourselves, we know first hand how hard it is to meet growing needs at a time when resources are limited. The Ride presents another option for our caregivers and the community as a whole to not only have a great day of biking, but raise much needed money for all the arts programs we have here. While our primary focus is addressing the physical health of people in the community - we also recognize that a healthy community needs to have vibrant arts, culture and recreation options that are an important aspect of our quality of life.
Q: What's the best/most rewarding thing about supporting the Ride?
A: Our caregiver's response! Each year, our team of riders reflects the biggest not-for-profit group that participates in the Ride. It's that we're very proud of our caregivers and their families and their continued dedication to the Ride and other community events.
Q: What's the most challenging thing about supporting the Ride?
A: With an organization of our size and the number of caregivers and their family members who sign up each year, it's a logistical challenge to organize and coordinate a team with hundreds of riders. In the past, we've also provided massage therapy for participants after the ride. It's extremely popular, so there's a lot of work involved in coordinating schedules to try to accommodate everyone after they've finished their bike ride.
Q: Do you have a favorite story you'd like to share about your own Ride experience?
A: Just last year, including the Hoan Bridge as part of the Ride - providing a great view of our city, the lake, the skyline, all the families, all the riders enjoying their Ride. The beautiful weather, feeling the unity, it was just a great memory and I'm so looking forward to repeating the experience this year!
