Skipstone Philanthropic Foundation Raises Over €103,000 ($118,000) To Benefit King Ridge Foundation and Tadej Pogačar Foundation

Four foundation-backed teams sweep podium at Tortour 2025 in grueling 500 km cycling race

GEYSERVILLE, Calif., Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Skipstone Philanthropic Foundation announced today that its Tortour 2025 campaign, which concluded on July 31, 2025, has raised over €103,000 (over $118,000) for charitable causes. All proceeds were donated equally to the King Ridge Foundation and the Tadej Pogačar Foundation.

The fundraising success coincided with an extraordinary sporting achievement, as all four teams racing to raise money for Skipstone Philanthropic Foundation swept the podium at the prestigious Tortour 500 km charity team cycling competition, finishing in first, second, third, and fourth place. All teams participating in the Tortour 500 km challenge, each consisting of six riders, committed to raising money for charitable causes throughout the competition.

Starting at 5:00 PM on July 11, 2025, and continuing through the night into the next day on a challenging 500 km course with 6.700 meters of elevation gain, the remarkable performance saw Team Skipstone, Team Sunrise, Tortour Racing Team, and Team Zeven dominate the field in one of cycling's most demanding ultracycling endurance events.

Supporting Meaningful Causes

The funds raised through the campaign will support the ongoing efforts of two impactful organizations. The King Ridge Foundation, a nonprofit based in Santa Rosa, California, has been serving at-risk youth since 2009 and is the main charitable partner of Levi's GranFondo, founded by former professional cyclist and three-time Tour of California champion Levi Leipheimer. The Tadej Pogačar Foundation provides assistance to those affected by natural disasters and children battling illness, reflecting the four-time Tour de France champion's dedication to helping those in need.

Quotes from Key Stakeholders

"These remarkable achievements reflect the same values we champion – perseverance, solidarity, and giving back to those who need help most," said Tadej Pogačar, President of Tadej Pogačar Foundation. "This generous donation, the single largest in our foundation's history, will directly support our mission to assist families affected by natural disasters and children battling illness. We thank the Skipstone Philanthropic Foundation and all the riders for their outstanding performance and contribution to helping those in need."

"This extraordinary contribution from Skipstone Philanthropic Foundation will make a real difference in the lives of at-risk youth we serve," said Levi Leipheimer, President and Director of King Ridge Foundation. "Since 2009, we've been committed to supporting at-risk youth, and their contribution demonstrates how sport can be a powerful vehicle for positive change. We're grateful for this support and inspired by the dedication of all the riders who made this possible."

"Having four teams raising money for the same foundation dominate our podium is unprecedented in Tortour history," said Joko Vogel, Co-founder and Owner of Tortour GmbH. "These teams embody the spirit of our event – pushing human limits while making a positive impact beyond sport. It's inspiring to see how competitive excellence and charitable giving can work hand in hand, especially this year when we reached a record-breaking grand total of over €224,000 raised for charity."

"We are absolutely thrilled with both the sporting success and the incredible generosity shown by our supporters," said Fahri Diner, President and Director of Skipstone Philanthropic Foundation. "We are honored to be helping such worthy causes that perfectly align with our mission of strengthening communities through our interconnected pillars of Youth Wellbeing and Emergency Response, among others. The dedication of our 24 riders and support crews has been truly inspirational."

About the Organizations

Skipstone Philanthropic Foundation is a charitable, nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening communities worldwide through five interconnected pillars: Emergency Response, Youth Wellbeing, Environmental Stewardship, Healthy Living, and Entrepreneurship. The foundation raises funds through culinary and sporting events, including cycling and equestrian activities, which embody the spirit of community, challenge, teamwork, and perseverance central to their mission of creating a stronger, more compassionate world.

King Ridge Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in Santa Rosa, California, that has been serving at-risk youth since 2009. As the main charitable partner of Levi's GranFondo, the foundation works to support at-risk youth and communities affected by disasters in the region.

Tadej Pogačar Foundation is a charitable foundation involved in organizing charity events, awareness campaigns, donations of sports equipment, collaborating with research institutions, emergency response efforts, youth scholarships, and other charitable projects. Founded by four-time Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar, the foundation reflects his dedication to sharing his success and supporting those in need, guided by values of solidarity and compassion. It is currently accepting scholarship applications for the 2025/26 academic year, aimed at helping high school, college, and postgraduate students who have overcome cancer or are currently undergoing treatment.

Tortour  is the largest nonstop, multi-day ultracycling event in the world. The annual event, having recently completed its 17th edition, features ultracycling formats of 1,000 km, 500 km, 250 km, and other distances. The top athletic performances of the participating athletes inspire those around them, not only for moral support along the way but also to promote meaningful charity activities. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
C. Milan Communications
Charlotte Milan
415.412.9303
[email protected] 

SOURCE Skipstone