Call for donations: Biking for Best Buddies and helping those with neurodiversity

Dear friends,

You have supported me in past charitable causes – thank you! – and I am writing to ask for your help now as I am up against a deadline.?(The CEO gig is busy and I waited too long to send this email.)? I have promised to raise $10,000 for Best Buddies, so I am going to match the first $5,000 donated to get to my promised pledge by end of Friday, Sept. 27. Here is the donation link – ?https://www.bestbuddieschallenge.org/hc/support2024/#Lubarsky.

Why haven’t you heard from me in three years for a donation?? My last Best Buddies charity ride was October 2021.? Shortly after that ride, I was injured and unable to get on my bike for two years.? I have now (somewhat miraculously) recovered, and been back in the saddle – I’m almost back to form. ?Although off the bike, I haven’t taken a break from Best Buddies or helping those with neurodiversity. ?At UC Davis Health, we have created a Best Buddies volunteer program to help upskill those differently abled and prepare them for a full time job.? We have also developed a 4-year mentored, UC Davis undergrad opportunity for those with neurodiversity who would otherwise not be able to attend. ?We have continued to grow our top-funded autism institute (always #1 in National Institutes of Health funding in the U.S.). ?

And, we have created a neurodiversity employee resource group to better support those we employ. ?From the health care perspective, we are leading the nation in developing Emergency Medicine training programs and policies to effectively treat and help communicate with neurodiverse patients.

So why ride and raise money personally?? Because it makes the world an even better place!? Best Buddies reaches many more than we can at one institution, and it helps educate people like me who can carry their message of caring forward. ?So please donate! ?(https://www.bestbuddieschallenge.org/hc/support2024/#Lubarsky)

Best Buddies is the largest non-profit dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation for more than 200 million people worldwide who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. It helps them form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure successful jobs, live independently, and improve their public speaking, self-advocacy and communication skills.

I’m proud to once again to be part of Maria Shriver’s team, as she and her family have been leaders in this cause.? Being back on the rolling hills and roads around Sonoma makes me even more grateful for the opportunity to pedal up and help, and I’m grateful to count you as friends and colleagues. Thank you!

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