As part of Ingram Micro's commitment to the community, the Philanthropic Committee at the company's Buffalo headquarters has been supporting charity bike events for more than a decade. Over the last year, however, these grass-roots efforts have grown into a force to be reckoned with.

"In 2007, we began to organize and look for ways not only to grow the team, but to increase our visibility at community events and promote associate wellness through exercise," says Gerry Goris, a technical support manager at Ingram Micro and co-captain of the Buffalo cycling team.

With support from Ingram Micro management, Goris and his fellow team members reached out to obtain vendor sponsorship and create a more formal program. Their first sponsor, avid cyclist Don Pellnat of 3Com, helped them acquire matching team shirts and build momentum into 2008. Since then, a total of 11 vendors have come on board, along with a local bicycle shop, to sponsor events benefiting the team's two main charities: the American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure, a ride held in 40 states across the country, and the Ride for Roswell, which supports Roswell Park Cancer Institute, a leading treatment and research facility.

Held on May 31, 2008, the Buffalo Tour de Cure was one of the top five Tour de Cure events in the country, attracting approximately 1,000 riders and raising about $375,000 for the American Diabetes Association. The event included five cycling routes ranging from 6-100 miles, according to Goris, who participated along with other members of Team Ingram Micro.

Less than a month later, on June 28, the team joined more than 5,600 other riders at the Ride For Roswell in Williamsville, N.Y., which raised $2 million dollars in total toward cancer research. For the first time ever, the event included a 13-mile police-escorted peloton ride for top fundraisers, starting at Roswell Park in downtown Buffalo and finishing up at the University of Buffalo -- the starting point for six routes ranging from eight to 62 miles.

"This year, our team grew from a small handful to more than 40 people in the combined events," says Goris, adding that many of Ingram Micro's vendor partners have participated in rides as well. "Not only do we have associates, friends and family riding in Ingram Micro blue and red at charity events, but Brad Carbaugh (a senior sales representative in Ingram Micro's DCC Division) has a team of competitive riders wearing our colors in cycling events almost every week."

"It adds up to a tremendous amount of local visibility for our company and our sponsors," Goris concludes. And an equally tremendous amount of help for worthy causes: The team’s total donations from the two events reached nearly $20,000.

Interested in becoming a member of Team Ingram Micro? Contact Brad Carbaugh for more information.