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Thanks to donations from residents nearby and as far away as Tahoe a summer bicycle program for underprivileged kids is back on track. 

“There’s been an overwhelming community response from the entire Bay Area and even people from as far away as Tahoe and Chico,” said Kathy Corliss, program director for the Berkeley Boosters Police Activity League. 

Less than a week ago, all 25 of the Berkeley Booster’s bicycles were reported missing from a storage space near Allston Way and Shattuck Avenue.  

It appeared that plans for a summer bike ride and whitewater rafting trip would be canceled.  

But people who read about the crime reacted quickly. Now – other than just a few minor adjustments – the 125-mile ride to Coloma and a week of camping and rafting will happen this month as planned. 

By Chris Nichols 

Daily Planet Staff 

Thanks to donations from residents nearby and as far away as Tahoe a summer bicycle program for underprivileged kids is back on track. 

“There’s been an overwhelming community response from the entire Bay Area and even people from as far away as Tahoe and Chico,” said Kathy Corliss, program director for the Berkeley Boosters Police Activity League. 

Less than a week ago, all 25 of the Berkeley Booster’s bicycles were reported missing from a storage space near Allston Way and Shattuck Avenue.  

It appeared that plans for a summer bike ride and whitewater rafting trip would be canceled.  

But people who read about the crime reacted quickly. Now – other than just a few minor adjustments – the 125-mile ride to Coloma and a week of camping and rafting will happen this month as planned. 

A number of local organizations contributed, including the Bayer Corporation which donated $500 to the Boosters, and Clif Bar which donated 5 new bikes and food products to the program. 

Several local community members also made significant donations. Checks of $3,500 and $2,500 were received from two anonymous donors. 

“This has all been very encouraging,” said Ove Wittstock, former executive director of the boosters club and current director of the Berkeley Guides. “It’s nice to have a good story every once in a while. People have been asking me all week ‘how can I help, what can I do?’” 

Berkeley Mayor Shirley Dean, Rep. Dion Aroner, D-Berkeley, and the local Rotary Club also offered to help. 

“We’ve had to turn down some bikes because we just can’t take them all,” Wittstock said. He encouraged donors to help with other programs including the booster’s backpacking program, which is expensive to staff and equip. 

Support for the booster’s summer program has been so great that the boosters no longer need replacement bikes according to David Manson, executive director of the Berkeley Boosters. But, Manson said, contributions can be made to the booster’s many other programs, including a youth sailing program and the Berkeley Guides. 

“We would like to thank the entire Bay Area community for their tremendous outpouring of support. You have truly made an impact on our kids. They truly understand that they are important and that people do care,” Manson said on voicemail message Wednesday. 

The Berkeley Boosters Association, formed in 1983 as a nonprofit organization, aims to build bridges between the police department and the community.  

According to Mayor Dean, the contributions made to the boosters are especially important in light of the work the nonprofit does with kids. The boosters joined the California Police Activities League in 1987 and organizes basketball, softball, soccer, golf, tae kwan do, boxing tournaments and deep sea fishing excursions for kids.