What have you signed up to do this time?

I’m gearing up for an epic coast to coast bicycle ride from Florida to Oregon with The Fuller Center for Housing! Along the way, we'll stop to help build or repair homes with Fuller Center projects. More about the event itself is at fullercenterbikeadventure.org.

Why are you doing it?

I might be a little crazy, but who isn't these days? Seriously, I love a good challenge and making a real difference. Plus, I'm excited to form a strong community of volunteers on bikes as we pedal our way across the country.

What’s the Fuller Center?

A 501(c)(3) ecumenical Christian organization that believes everyone in the world deserves the opportunity to have a decent home in which to live. Millard and Linda Fuller were self-made millionaires who gave away their fortune in 1969 to follow God's leading. They lived the rest of their lives on humble means and dedicated themselves to providing decent housing to over a million people in 100 countries around the world, culminating in their founding of the Fuller Center in 2005.

Ok, but what does the Fuller Center do?

It builds and repairs homes using volunteers in partnership with families, who help with the work and pay it forward using a no-profit, no-interest loan that gets repaid to help more families.

It works through a grassroots network of volunteer-driven Fuller Centers in 90 U.S. towns and cities and in 20 countries around the world. Work includes community transformation in El Salvador, Armenia and Madagascar to disaster recovery in places like Mayfield, Kentucky and in Haiti to name a few.

It’s built or repaired over 8,000 homes – enough to house 30,000 people! Learn more about the impact here.

What are the ways to donate?

1. Click on the Donate button of this webpage. As simple as that!

2. After you donate on this webpage (Option #1 above), take advantage of your employer's company match. Your employer's charitable giving program (e.g. Benevity.org) may have a "Request A Match" feature. Search for Fuller Center for Housing Inc". As several results may come up in the search, select the one based in Americus, GA. You'll just need to upload your PDF receipt. To ensure your company's match gets credited in my name, please enter the following in the comments "Fuller Center Florida to Florence: Biker Ruben Garcia". Benevity will send your match directly to Fuller Center.

3. If you prefer to send a check instead, make it payable to “The Fuller Center for Housing” with “bike — Ruben Garcia” in the memo line. Mail to:

Attn: Bike Adventure
The Fuller Center for Housing
PO Box 523
Americus, GA 31709

What happens to my donation?

The Fuller Center is known for maximizing donations by putting as much of the funds towards the work as possible. Their independent audit estimated that 94% of the funds go directly to program expenses, with only 6% to administrative and fundraising costs. This is a MUCH higher percentage to program than most groups given that the industry standard is 65% to program. The organization is also rated GuideStar Platinum, the charity evaluator's highest certification.

During the ride we live very simply, sleeping on the floors of gracious and generous church hosts, resulting in only about 2-3% of the funds raised helping to cover Bike Adventure expenses on the road.

Are there other ways I can help?

The rides do need crucial support volunteers and media interns (and often more riders!) if you’re interested in coming along, but besides that, your encouragement and your prayers for health, safety, and a great team would be highly appreciated. THANK YOU so much! This is a team event, and it’s not just the riders: by helping YOU are part of the team!