Press Release: Going the Distance

FORMER BICYCLE SHOP OWNER MAKES DREAM COME TRUE WITH CROSS-COUNTRY TREK

Two-month endeavor will support SMARTS Community Art School in Youngstown

Youngstown, OH: SMARTS, Students Motivated by the Arts, is inviting the community to a kickoff celebration on Monday, June 4 at 11:30am for its “Going the Distance” campaign, sending off Doug Smith, former owner of The Drum Smith, as he prepares to bike across the United States as a fundraiser for the school.

The event, which will take place at SMARTS, located at Ohio One, 25 E. Boardman St.,  Youngstown, will highlight Doug along with SMARTS’ staff, providing photo and interview opportunities.

Smith’s nine week journey will take him from Astoria, OR to Virginia Beach, VA, starting on June 7 and ending on August 11. He plans to ride 60 miles per day, and a team of people will track his progress while traveling ahead of him into the communities he plans to visit.

“This is an adventure that most people only get to dream about,” says Smith. “The fact that I’m doing this while fundraising for SMARTS, an organization I’ve been involved with for a long time, makes it that much more exciting. We have the opportunity to raise nearly $35,000, which equates to an entire month of programming at the school. It doesn’t get much better than that!”

Along with Smith’s “route trackers,” the staff at SMARTS will also document his progress, continuously updating SMARTS’ website and social media throughout the trip. Additionally, SMARTS plans to host a pit stop celebration on Wednesday August 1, as Doug travels through Youngstown on his way to Virginia Beach.

“Sponsorships for Going the Distance are available throughout the entire trip,” says Smith. “SMARTS brings creative opportunity and inspiration to youth who may not otherwise have access to it. And, since many of my own dreams have been realized through arts education, I look forward to the impact a month’s worth of funding can bring to the students of this school.”

SMARTS community art school provides access and early training in the arts for northeast Ohio’s PK-12 youth, with a focus on underserved populations. They offer free classes in visual arts, music, dance, theater, and creative writing in an effort to inspire self-discovery, promote student achievement, and impact cultural and academic literacy. Donations toward Smith’s “Going the Distance for SMARTS” ride can be made by visiting the SMARTS website at www.SmartsArtSchool.org.