Venus de Miles Cycling Event Pledges Zero Waste Commitment

Online, July 22, 2010 (Newswire.com) - (July 22, BOULDER, COLORADO) -

Offering women of all ages and abilities a fun-filled day of cycling, socializing, and supporting Greenhouse Scholars, Venus de Miles is pleased to announce several new partnerships and Zero Waste eco-initiatives for this year's August 29th event.

Lead by new Presenting Sponsor WhiteWave Foods, a pioneer in creating healthy, responsibly produced foods, several new sponsors are on board for the third-annual event, which includes three course options (33, 51, or 67 miles) and is open to women of all ages and abilities. Many sponsors hail from the Front Range, demonstrating their commitment to supporting local, community-focused events.

As the official beer sponsor, Longmont, CO based Left Hand Brewing will serve its award-winning craft beer at the post-ride festival. Gebhardt Automotive, based in Boulder, will provide a fleet of vehicles for organized rider support. And ski resort Eldora Mountain will be on-site offering all Venus participants special deals on its 2010-2011 Women's Program. Other local sponsors include Headsweats, Zeal Optics, Born Fit, Evol Foods, mix1, and Solar Yoga.

"The support from WhiteWave and all of our other sponsors is invaluable," says Andra Pool, Chief Operating Officer of Greenhouse Scholars, the beneficiary non-profit that organizes Venus de Miles. "Their generosity helps us accommodate more riders, provide truly unique experiences for our riders, and ultimately raise more money for Greenhouse Scholars scholarships, mentorship, leadership training, and more for Colorado's high-performing and under-resourced students in college."

Demonstrating its commitment to sustainability, Venus de Miles has also partnered with local company Eco-Cycle to be a Zero Waste event. Only recyclable and compostable materials will be distributed on-site. Eco-Cycle will also provide Zero Waste stations throughout the event for public use. WhiteWave Foods will offset all carbon emissions from the day of the event. Other eco-friendly initiatives include providing recycled bib numbers and goody bags, serving locally sourced food and drink, and using a bio diesel shuttle bus courtesy of The Climb.

This year, Venus de Miles is slated to attract up to 3,000 participants. A lively festival in Longmont's Prospect Park follows the bike ride, featuring gourmet food, live music, cocktails and beer, and spa services. Venus de Miles is organized by and benefits Greenhouse Scholars, a non-profit organization that provides a comprehensive Whole Person support program to high-performing, under-resourced students.

In 2010, Venus de Miles is expected to raise nearly $100,000 for Greenhouse Scholars, which will fully fund mentorship, leadership training, college tuition, and more for 16 of Colorado's most deserving students.

The cost of registration before August 17th is $90. The price increases the closer the date gets to the event on Sunday August 29th. Online registration and event details can be found at the Venus de Miles website.

For more Information on Venus de Miles, please visit www.venusdemiles.com or contact Teresa Robbins at [email protected] or 303 460-1745

###