A Brief History

Rome ‘n Ride for the Children, held annually in early fall, began when a group of motorcycle enthusiasts from Rome, Georgia, decided to organize a mid-day ride that would be fun for cyclists, while raising money for a local children’s charity: The Open Door Home (ODH).

On October 5, 2002, approximately 75 participants gathered at ODH for breakfast, then left for a scenic motorbike ride to nearby Carter’s Lake Damn. At the lake, everyone enjoyed a home-baked lunch prepared by the house mothers of ODH, as well as a raffle and auction. That first event raised $4,500 and, importantly, laid the foundation for what would soon become a popular and profitable regional fundraising event. The following year, organizers repeated their efforts and attracted twice the number of participants, and nearly doubled the amount of funds raised for ODH.

The event continued to grow when, in 2004, it was selected to be organized by members of the North West Georgia Women’s Connection and the president of Rome Electric Company, a longtime supporter of ODH. That new support, and many local sponsors and businesses, attracted more than 200 riders and raised $18,000 for the children of ODH.

The event was expanded in 2005 to two days (Friday and Saturday) of separate but complementary activities. This included a Friday night dinner, celebrity live and silent auctions and Saturday motorcycle ride and meal. The combination of these efforts resulted in an increased number of participants, sponsors, and volunteers as well as increased visibility from media exposure. These efforts ultimately raised more than
$57,000 for children in need throughout northwest Georgia.

During our fifth year, Rome ‘n Ride for the Children continued its growth, featuring activities for individuals and families of all ages. The 2006 event included a golf tournament (hosted by football legend Ray Donaldson); the traditional Saturday motorcycle ride followed by activities, including lunch, live music, and a vendor fair(which hosted over 650 riders); and our finale program featuring our live and silent auctions, followed by a special concert by country music superstar Mark Wills.

Our Sixth Annual event was bigger than ever and included a weeks’ worth of fun and entertainment foreveryone! On Monday, October 1st, we kicked off the week with our celebrity Golf Tournament which was held at the beautiful Barnsley Gardens Resort. On Saturday we held our traditional Motorcycle Ride at the State Mutual Stadium, Home of the Rome Braves. Our riders were entertained by top Southern Rock entertainers “KneckDown” along with various other local talents throughout the day leading up to our Saturday night concert/auction featuring country music superstar Mark Wills and country newcomers Davey Smith and Scott Thompson. Our finale event was held on Sunday evening at the Forum Civic Center in Rome with performances by legendary contemporary Christian artists, NewSong and Echoing Angels, along with Jimmy Needham, Flights from Egypt, Illusionist BJ Harris and special guest speaker Doctor Johnny Hunt. All of this to make one of the most exciting year of events yet!

Now in its seventh year, Rome ‘n Ride for the Children will once again present its ever-popular Golf Tournament, hosted by football legend Ray Donaldson; the traditional Saturday motorcycle ride which will take our riders on a beautiful scenic ride through the northwest Georgia mountains, followed by a wonderful lunch and entertainment; included also will be ATV raffles and a private concert event.