Celebrity Cyclists Join Community in Supporting Shriners Hospital

SACRAMENTO (May 13, 2014) – As a prelude to the 2014 Amgen Tour of California, 150 cycling enthusiasts and friends of Shriners Hospitals for Children sipped Belgian-inspired craft beers and sampled fine foods while mingling with a host of cycling greats at the Capitol Mall offices of Nossaman LLP.

The festivities were part of Biergarten in the Sky, a private fundraising event that took place on May 8 to benefit Shriners Hospitals for Children – Northern California and California cycling organizations.  Nossaman LLP hosted the event, which featured beers provided by the California Craft Brewers Association and fine food courtesy of Chops, Pangaea, and Cultured and Cured.

Christopher J. Walker, Senior Policy Advisor with Nossaman and organizer for the event said, "As a longstanding member of the Sacramento community, Nossaman is delighted to be able to work with professional cyclists and craft brewers to support the Northern California Shriners Hospital. Nossaman looks forward to making Biergarten in the Sky an annual event to benefit the hospital."

Guests had the opportunity to have their pictures taken with members of the Omega Pharma Quick Step team, including Belgians Tom Boonen and Gillaume Van Keirsbulck. Several other Omega team members also participated in the event, including  Niki Terpstra from the Netherlands, Carlos Verona from Spain, Martin Velits from Slovakia, Mark Renshaw from Australia, Andrew Fenn from the United Kingdom, and Mark Cavendish, also from the United Kingdom and the winner of Stage 1 of the Tour of California held on Sunday, May 11. 

"We are grateful to Nossaman LLP, the California Craft Brewers Association and everyone associated with this event," said Alan Anderson, Director of Development at the Northern California Shriners Hospital.  "Our success as a hospital is a testament to the power of a generous community, and we are proud to say that thousands of children have benefited from the specialized pediatric care provided by our hospital. We thank the community for helping us make a positive difference." 

Other supporters of Biergarten in the Sky included Nielsen Merksamer Parrinello Gross & Leoni LLP; Ann and Mike O'Connell; Janet Caisse; Scott Marks; Chris Davis; Mike Mraz; Justin Laffoday; Scott Goyne; Christian Palacido; and Brian Opsal .

Biergarten in the Sky will return next year in conjunction with the 2015 Amgen Tour of California. For information about how to get involved, please contact Christopher Walker at 916-442-8888 or cwalker@nossaman.com, or Alan Anderson at 916-453-2008 or asanderson@shrinenet.org.