Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "rogers jewelry"

Race for the Ring fundraiser brings adventure to Sacramento

2011-05-23T07:29:24Z

About 600 people wearing blue T-shirts walked and rode bicycles, searching for clues in downtown Sacramento at the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services’ third annual Race for the Ring event Saturday.

Food Bank communications director Kelly Siefkin said the money raised will help support all eight programs, from providing food and clothing to education and women’s resources.

“I think it’s a way to involve part of the Sacramento community and people who don’t really know about the programs,” Siefkin said. “We make it a fun day. They want to come back with their families, volunteer and be motivated about the programs.”

The event provides a fun way for people to get an “Amazing Race” experience locally.

The race kicked off with a countdown from Mayor Kevin Johnson, and participants made their way from Raley Field to downtown.

Partners Hope and Rena Richards said it was their first time doing any type of race.

“I’m a little concerned – it’s a lot of riding,” Hope Richards said. “But you’ll never know until you try.”

Individuals or pairs received clues via text message about where to find answers to trivia questions. Each team traveled on bike or on foot to specific destinations and could not use any vehicles or outside help.

Teams traveled to places like Old Sacramento, the Tower Bridge and around the Capitol to search for the answer. Every team had a different path to follow and received a different set of text messages.

If the team answered correctly, they earned points. If a team made three incorrect attempts to a question, they had to move on. Teams with the most total points won prizes.

Several teams were in high spirits during the race.

San Tsan and Brian Herman of the Magic Sticks team dressed in matching shirts with their team name.

“Magic Sticks is going to win!” Tsan said.

Husband and wife team Jessica and Steve Donaldson parked their bicycles to look for a historic landmark sign.

“(The race is) easy, because we live here,” Jessica Donaldson said.

Calvin Curtin, the marketing director for Rogers Jewelry, said the store donated prizes for the event for the top 10 teams.

“There are prizes for early entry, best team name and best costume,” Curtin said.

The big prizes for the top three places included a $3,200] Hearts on Fire pendant called Beloved for third place, a $5,700 Hearts on Fire double halo solitaire ring called Transcend for second, and a $8,600 Hearts on Fire diamond ring, for first.

Race for the Rock 2010

2010-06-07T06:46:42Z

Downtown Sacramento was a blur of baby blue T-shirts Saturday during the 2nd Annual Race for the Rock. More than 250 two-member teams competed for bling in the scavenger hunt, in which clues were sent via text message. The grand prize was a $20,000 Hearts on Fire diamond ring donated by Rogers Jewelry. Proceeds benefited Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services (SFBFS).

Unlike many other nonprofit fund raisers, donors got the ball rolling, not the charity.

"We wanted to do something that brought the community together and where people could have a good time," said Calvin Curtin of Rogers Jewelry. After deciding to do a scavenger hunt, Rogers chose SFBFS as its community partner.

"We told them we would put up all the money and prizes if they help us with the logistics," said Curtin. "(SFBFS) provided the volunteers. They are the ones who really stepped up to the plate."

Participants ran, biked and roller-bladed through the Grid. Obviously, speed was key, but knowledge of Sacramento landmarks and monuments also was vital. Bernadette Behar and Sue Dwyer-Voss discussed their strategy before the race began.

"I do a lot of urban walking," Behar said, "and I'm armed with a tour book of downtown."

The event kicked off at 10 a.m. on the west steps of the Capitol, with Mayor Kevin Johnson sending the first text message. Within two minutes, the plaza was empty. Checkpoints along the way included the Crest Theatre and the Convention Center.

It was all over by noon, with participants gathered on the patio of House Restaurant for lunch and the awards ceremony. The Detours, a local band, entertained the crowd with its mix of country and rock.

In keeping with the competition's text-messaged clues, that's how winners were contacted. Participants anxiously watched their cell phones for the announcement. The winners of the diamond ring were friends Andy and Steven.

Asked how he felt, Steven said, "I can't describe it," as he shook with excitement. The team said they would sell the ring.

Other prizes included diamond earrings, a diamond necklace, watches, bikes, gift cards and a GPS for a bike.

Kelly Siefkin of SFBFS summed up the day.

"It's a unique opportunity to spread the word about different organizations and businesses," she said. "And it's really fun."

For more information, visit racefortherock.com.

Photos:

1. Winners Andy and Steven

2. Race for the Rock crowd

3. Bikes

4. Dwyer-Voss and Behar

5. SacPress sign

Watch Race for the Rock kick-off celebration here!

2010-06-04T23:52:59Z

Thank you so much to everyone who has helped registered and helped spread the word about the 2nd annual Race for the Rock. Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) is thankful for the support of race participants as 100 percent of the event registration fee benefits programs and services at SFBFS. If you haven't registered yet but still want to join in the fun it's not too late! You can still sign up at the official Race for the Rock website or show up at 8 AM at the Capitol tomorrow and register in-person! We will be live streaming the kick-off festivities right here on The Sacramento Press Saturday, June 5.

The schedule of events is as follows:

8:00 Check-in begins (West steps of the Capitol): Racers receive t-shirts, meet local mascots such as Dinger, Scooter and professional dancers.
10:00 Kick off ceremony: Mayor Johnson will send out the first text and send the racers on their way at 10:15.12:00 Race wraps up: Racers are notified the final clue has been solved and everyone is invited back to the after party to celebrate.
12:30 After party is underway (House Kitchen & Bar 555 Capitol Ave) – valet bike parking, local band The Detours perform, lunch provided by House Kitchen & Bar.
2:00 Award ceremony. Prizes include $20,000 diamond ring, earrings, necklace, 2 beach cruisers, watches, gift certificates and much more!
3:00 Event wrap up

We hope you can to join us on Saturday with the hundreds of teams that will be racing through downtown Sacramento on bikes, scooters and foot using theirtexting skills to solve clues that will lead them to fabulous prizes.

Free live streaming by Ustream Free video chat by Ustream

One week left to sign up for Race for the Rock

2010-05-29T00:42:25Z

There's one only one week left to sign up to participate for the second annual Race for the Rock! See the beautiful jewlery prizes you will have a chance to win, including the grand prize Hearts on Fire $20,000 diamond ring, along with $15,000 worth of prizes donated by event sponsor Rogers Jewelry. All funds raised from this exciting text message-based scavenger hunt on bike will go directly towards the programs and services at the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services.

Find out more details by watching our interview on News 10 interview this morning:

To register, please visit the official Race for the Rock website.

Cyclists to do a mad dash in search of diamonds

2010-05-06T22:28:14Z

Hop on your bikes, Sacramento, and get ready to search for some bling.

Rogers Jewelry Co. and Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) are bringing back Race for the Rock for its second year with plans to make this year's fundraiser bigger and better than last year.

"We have a year under our belt with this new event, and our relationship with Rogers and our participants continue to get stronger and stronger," said Blake Young, SFBFS president.

On June 5, around 1,000 participants will meet at the west steps of the Capitol to partake in a text message-based scavenger hunt around downtown. Using a mobile, geo-gaming technology system called SCVNGR, clues will be sent directly to contestants' cell phones.

The clues will lead to $35,000 worth of jewelry, including the grand prize Hearts on Fire diamond ring worth $20,000 and second- and third-place prizes worth more than $3,500 each. Additional valuable prizes up for grabs include a Garmin GPS system for bikes, watches by Seiko, and women's and men's rings, among others.

"Participants should expect a very exciting event with really good prizes and a good feeling that their efforts and time will result in families receiving help through this combined effort," said Young said. He said he believes the best part of the race is exposing SFBFS to a new support base and increasing public awareness of the many programs the organization operates.

The idea for Race for the Rock was born last year when the Rogers team, a third-generation family business, began questioning how they could give back to Sacramento where the Rogers family has lived and worked for close to 70 years.

"Right now, there are a lot more people out there needing help to make ends meet," said Rogers Marketing Director Calvin Curtin. "The question is, how can a group of jewelry stores help people struggling to pay their bills and put food on the table?"

That's when Rogers turned to SFBFS, where every dollar donated equals $10 worth of services and goods. All proceeds from the $40-per-team entry fee will go directly to SFBFS with a goal of raising more than $500,000. Those who wish to donate but cannot participate in the race can pay the registration fee and still attend the after-party without partaking in the race.

Besides having fun in the name of a great cause, Curtin said he believes one of the best parts of the race is the bonding that takes place. He explained that at the beginning of last year's race, many teams quietly kept to themselves. This changed at the after party, when many of the teams mixed and mingled, sharing stories and laughs over the experience they had all just gone through.

"Race for the Rock is like a party," he said. "It's the coolest feeling to bring a huge group of people together and give them a common experience to share."

This year's after party, included in the entry fee, will take place at HOUSE Kitchen & Bar, where attendees can valet their bikes, be fed lunch, and be entertained by party band The Detours. Prizes will be given out during an award ceremony at the party.

As of last week, without any advertising, about 70 teams are registered. This number is expected to multiply sevenfold in the final weeks before the race with additional marketing efforts and exposre. Registration is accepted up until kickoff at the event, but only 500 teams will be allowed to participate in order to maximize teams' chances of winning prizes.

"By participating in this event, you are helping to provide a lifeline of hope to people struggling to make ends meet," Curtin said.

For more information or to register, visit the Race for the Rock website.

See last year's event:

Photos courtesy of Rogers Jewelry Co.

Author's Note: The maximum teams allowed to register this year is actually 1,000. Also, the $500,000 mentioned in the article is referring to how many goods and services the $50,000 donation goal will provide to SFBFS.