The 2014 Cabot Community Tour Rolls Into The Big Apple For Its Grand Finale

CABOT, Vt., June 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- After more than a month on the road, only one flat tire, 1,512 cups of coffee and more than 756 liters of water consumed, and more than their share of tired muscles, recumbent cyclists Myron and Cathy Skott and riding partner Basil Campbell will roll into the Big Apple on Saturday, June 21 along with the rest of the members of 2014 Cabot Community Tour for a grand finale celebration at the Adventures NYC event in Central Park.

Founded and sponsored by Cabot Creamery Cooperative, the Northeast's premier dairy co-op that is owned and operated by 1200 farm families located throughout all six New England states, and upstate New York, the 2014 Community Tour was designed to honor and celebrate the good deeds volunteers and non-profit organizations do each day. 

Sponsors of The 2014 Community Tour include: AARP Create the Good, East Coast Greenway, HandsOn Network, Marriott, and National Life Group.

The June 21 grand finale celebration marks the culmination of a six-week journey that began May 17 in Jacksonville, Florida and closely followed the East Coast Greenway through small towns and big cities along the east coast. Farm cooperatives, food banks, rescue squads, hospice and social service providers, and countless other non-profit organizations including local and regional affiliates of Habitat For Humanity, civic associations, and town governments participated in the 2014 Community Tour and were honored for their selfless acts of kindness and volunteerism.

"We're proud to say that the 2014 Community Tour has been a great success," said Cabot President and CEO, Dr. Richard Stammer. "We've partnered with 58 amazing organizations along the way and held more than 30 unique events in communities all along the route.  Each event was a celebration in honor of the countless volunteers who give so selflessly to make this a better world.  Volunteerism is a big part of our farmers' heritage and legacy, and to present the Community Tour in honor and recognition of volunteerism is something in which we take great pride," Stammer said.

The June 21 grand finale is part of Adventures New York City.  This activity-packed event will include tons of outdoor adventure for the entire family, such as rock climbing, adventure racing, mountain biking, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and a variety of other fun activities.  

The public is invited to join Cabot in Central Park, along with Habitat for Humanity New York City, as we conduct an interactive, hands-on demonstration build, creating picnic tables that will be donated to city parks for residents to enjoy!  While there, children can enjoy time making crafts that will be donated to completed home-builds.

"Since 1919, Cabot Creamery has been an important community builder through jobs and nutrition. Their support of Habitat for Humanity is a great expansion of that care for community and we are tremendously grateful to partner with them," said Neil Hetherington, CEO of Habitat for Humanity New York City.

Other highlights to be enjoyed at the Adventures NYC festival include free samples of Cabot's Farmers' Legacy Collection (Farmhouse Reserve, White Oak Cheddar, and Alpine Cheddar)– three exciting new flavors that pay homage to the roots of Cabot's farmer-owners and celebrate the classic European cheese-making traditions.  There will also be BMX bike shows, an obstacle course for kids, rock climbing, backcountry cooking, a farmers market, kayaking, bike rentals and a variety of other activities.

The 2014 Community Tour was a follow-on effort by Cabot to emulate the success of the first Community Tour that took place in 2012 and ran from Miami, Florida to Portland, Maine.

Replicating their original bike ride from the 2012 Community Tour, the Skotts from Johns Creek, Georgia, and fellow cyclist Basil Campbell, a retiree and non-profit volunteer from Athens Georgia, joined the 2014 Community Tour to reengage with members from communities all along the Tour route.  

"There was never a doubt in our minds that we'd complete the 1,300 mile journey," said Cathy Skott.  "The first tour was significantly longer and we did that without any issues.  This year's Tour was just as well planned and it was a great ride all along the way."  Husband Myron agrees.  "The ride was great and we liked the fact that this year's Tour included a lot more small town stops and celebrations, whereas the 2012 Tour focused on larger cities and events.  This year's Tour enabled us to engage with more people in more places so we got to see more of what they do in their local communities, and to thank them for all the great volunteer work they do."  Basil echoed Myron's thoughts, saying, "It was really nice meeting with so many different people this time around.  It's amazing how many people really care about their communities and fellow neighbors – even complete strangers.  The good deeds they do voluntarily is so impressive and I'm honored to have been a part of this Tour to recognize and thank so many for all they do."

Another unique feature to the 2014 Community tour is the Cabot Farmers' Gratitude Grille, - a mobile kitchen that was utilized to provide nutritious meals to volunteer groups all along the Tour.   Over the course of the 2014 Community Tour, the Farmer's Gratitude Grille has served nutritious meals to nearly 1300 volunteers.

"Our Farmer's Gratitude Grill is a wonderful way for us to give thanks to those who give of their time with no expectation for anything in return," says Cabot spokesfarmer, Mark Hackett who is one of the chefs that operates the Gratitude Grille.  "It's heartwarming to see the expressions on volunteers faces when we pull up with the Grille and serve them fresh-made, nutritious meals in honor of their service to the community," Hackett said. "It's something they truly appreciate and we are honored to serve them as they serve their communities."  

Cabot takes great pride in promoting and supporting volunteerism around the nation. In fact, in February 2012, Cabot created and launched Reward Volunteers, the iPhone App and web widget from Cabot Creamery Cooperative that enables individuals and organizations to track the time they spend volunteering in their communities, post to Facebook, and earn rewards for themselves and the organizations they serve. At the end of each month, Cabot rewards volunteers for their hard work, and for inspiring friends and family to do the same, with a variety of prizes. The more hours volunteers log, the more chances to win. Participation is absolutely free.

Since launching, the program has grown every month, and given away thousands of dollars in cash and prizes to deserving volunteers and volunteer organizations. Reward Volunteers 5.0, the fifth iteration of the revolutionary iPhone app and web widget, has already seen more than 3,800 acts of kindness, generosity, and community support - totaling more than 18,700 hours - logged by individuals in service of non-profit organizations across the country.

ABOUT CABOT CREAMERY COOPERATIVE
Cabot Creamery Cooperative has been in continuous operation in Vermont since 1919, and makes a full line of cheeses, yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese and butter. Widely known as makers of "The World's Best Cheddar," Cabot is owned by the 1200 dairy farm families of Agri-Mark, the Northeast's premier dairy cooperative, with farms located throughout New England and upstate New York. For more information on Cabot, visit: http://www.cabotcheese.coop.

Cabot Creamery Cooperative is the world's first cheese maker and dairy cooperative to achieve B Corporation Certification, a validation of its attention to environmental and social impacts on stakeholders.

ABOUT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY NEW YORK CITY
Habitat for Humanity New York City transforms lives and our city by building quality homes with families in need and by uniting all New Yorkers around the cause of affordable housing. With the help of thousands of volunteers every year, Habitat NYC has served more than 380 families in the five boroughs of New York City with their permanent housing needs. To learn more, visit HabitatNYC.org. Follow Habitat for Humanity New York City on Twitter at @HabitatNYC.

Contact: Bob Schiers
1.888.214.9444 or [email protected]

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SOURCE Cabot Creamery Cooperative

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