Broad Support, Deep Expertise, No Overhead…A One-of-a-Kind Resource for OHV Enthusiasts

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 18, 2011 – The Right Rider Access Fund, a 501(c)(3) charitable community benefit organization, was unveiled today. Its mission is to promote the safe and responsible use of off-highway vehicles (OHVs) and to preserve riders’ access to appropriate lands, by directly supporting riders and by supplementing the work of the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC), the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America (SVIA), and the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association (ROHVA).

The Right Rider Access Fund is supported in part by MIC, SVIA and ROHVA, which will provide partial funding and administrative resources for the organization. The industry associations’ professional staff will execute the Fund’s mission. The Right Rider Access Fund also relies on generous contributions from individuals and businesses.

Today, there are an estimated 14 million off-highway motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs) in use. People choose off-highway recreation for many reasons: as a great family activity, an invigorating sport, a unique mode of exploration and adventure, and more.

“Enthusiasts need and deserve more help to ensure they can safely and responsibly operate their OHVs and access riding areas. By combining the existing support of the powersports industry associations with contributions from businesses and individuals, the financial resources available to support OHV enthusiasts will increase exponentially,” said the Fund’s President, Tim Buche. “Equally important, with industry expertise available to manage the work of the Fund on a charitable basis, 100% of contributions go to benefit off-highway enthusiasts – none is lost to cover overhead, personnel expenses or fundraising activities.”

The Fund initially will support OHV riders through three programs:

• The Safety, Education and Training Support Program will provide funding or other resources for safety, education and training initiatives.
• The OHV Organization Support Program will provide funding or other resources to national, state and local OHV rider organizations for projects designed to promote OHV recreation and expand OHV riding opportunities. For example, major funding for National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC) will be granted through the Fund.
• The Access Preservation Support Program will coordinate, manage and administer specific rider-funded, legal action to lessen the burdens of government in connection with their access to public lands.

“By contributing to the fund you will be supporting a variety of educational and training programs designed by off-highway vehicle professionals,” added Buche. “You’ll also help ensure that riding areas are not arbitrarily designated as off-limits to off-highway recreationists and encourage respect for the environment. Contributors can designate their donation to any or all of the three programs.”

The Fund relies on generous contributions from individuals and businesses. MIC, SVIA, and ROHVA employees opted to participate in a payroll deduction program. The first contributions were donated beginning February 18, 2011.

For more information about the Right Rider Access Fund and how to contribute, review the Frequently Asked Questions at riderfund.org/faq.

The Right Rider Access Fund is a charitable, community benefit organization created in 2011 to support off-highway vehicle enthusiasts directly, by supplementing the work of the Motorcycle Industry Council, the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, and the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association, and in other ways. Based in Irvine, California, the Fund’s charitable mission is to promote the safe and responsible use of off-highway vehicles and to preserve their access to appropriate lands. The breadth of the funding sources, the depth of expertise and the absence of overhead make the Right Rider Access Fund a one-of-a-kind resource for OHV enthusiasts. Visit the Fund at riderfund.org.