Three years ago, Fred Poulous discovered that his daughter’s school music program was in danger due to budget cuts.
Determined to help raise funds, the owner of Mombo’s Pizza founded the Mombo’s to Mombo’s bike ride, which for the last two years has raised over $8,000 for music programs at Brook Haven school. For the third year, Poulous is also donating to Pine Crest, and has a goal of raising $12,000. “At Brook Haven, these kids love their music program so much that they are there at 7:30,” Poulous says, “an hour before school starts.”
Along an easy, 20-mile flat route, the ride travels round trip from the restaurants in Sebastopol and Santa Rosa, where there will be plenty of pizza. If the 20-mile distance is too challenging, there’s a half-ride option, and new this year for those with toddlers is a four-mile “Mini Mombo” ride to BBQ Smokehouse Bistro in Sebastopol, with free pork sliders. For longtime locals, the event has sparked memories of the Brass Ass pizzeria’s famous “Ass to Ass Run” in the 1980s. “It’s wonderful that we can carry on the tradition,” Poulous says.
The Mombo’s to Mombo’s ride is on Saturday, May 4, starting at 560 Gravenstein Hwy. N., Sebastopol. Registration is from 10:30am–1pm. $25 donation encouraged. 707.823.7492.—Taylor May
