Fort Lauderdale, Fla—The third time is a charm for the PR Power Team on this Dream Ride—the 2000-mile ride from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida to Farmington, Connecticut to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics. The two women behind this PR agency are motorcycle enthusiasts who ride for a reason. “Lizz Egan and I got involved in the Dream Ride and it just took over a part of our lives—personal and professional,” says Marilyn DeMartini, founder of the 20-year old business, “Seeing the reaction of the athletes to the bikes and to our being there just for them, is one of the most rewarding experiences. The donations to all the local Special Olympics chapters to expand their programs changes people’s lives—that is the power behind PR Power’s efforts,” she added.
This year, the ride will look a little different for DeMartini as she will be riding an Indian Chieftain that she purchased from Coral Motorsports as the replacement of her old Harley that broke down on the trip last year. The dealership included the Dream Ride as a beneficiary of one of its recent rides and also supported the Dream Cars and Cocktails kickoff.
After a recent ride to Treasure Coast Indian Motorcycles of Hobe Sound, the new dealer in South Florida, Mike Cantor, owner of the impressive new dealership, stepped up and agreed to sponsor half of DeMartini’s ride. Latham Marine, a long-time client, friend and supporter of the Dream Ride will donate the other half and also support Egan. Each of the over 30 participants in the ride raises or donates at least $3,000 which has contributed to the over $4.7 million the Dream Ride has raised over the past 15 years.
and Kathy Latham
Egan is not only a public relations and social media expert, she is also a motorcycle RiderCoach and has been teaching others to ride two and three-wheel vehicles for 15 years in South Florida. On this third event for the PR Power team, Egan will be riding her Harley Davidson Road King.
Kathy and Bob Latham met Florida Dream Ride coordinator Meg Weinberger when she was working with a pet rescue operation at a Palm Beach fishing tournament where Latham Marine sponsored a team. They were so impressed by Weinberger’s involvements that they recommended PR Power to assist her in her media work for the Dream Ride. Miles and smiles later, the team is still raising funds and awareness for children in need, those with intellectual disabilities and life-threatening diseases, U.S. military veterans, emergency response personnel and pet rescues-all beneficiaries of The Hometown Foundation, Inc., the non-profit organization for the Dream Ride.
“This is an extremely hard-working group and we are pleased to support their efforts,” says Kathy Latham of Latham Marine who has a soft heart for those with special needs, military veterans and pets, “Michael Bozzuto, [the founder of the Dream Ride], is a true American and has done so much good for so many. When we saw the Dream Ride Experience, we understood why everyone involved in the event is so dedicated.”
The PR Power team is seeking help to reach its fundraising goals as all of the riders engage in a friendly competition to achieve more than the last year. “Seeing our donations at work in the communities where we ride and meet with small town chapters and athletes who are so grateful that they can continue to compete in a variety of events makes the work worthwhile,” says Egan, “Sometimes the ride is grueling and the weather can make it hard, but we always know that there will be a group of excited athletes when we get there, so we do whatever it takes to put a medal around their necks and a check in their chapter.”
For more information, visit www.dreamride.org, email md@prpower.biz or call 954.564.7234 to learn more about how you can support Team PR Power on the 2016 Dream Ride.
