SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) is proud to announce the third annual Lynne Mohr Memorial Bike Ride, which will raise funds to support students pursuing careers in the skilled trades and manufacturing. This year, the “Big Sky Bicycle Ride – The Arctic Circle,” will take place from August 8 – September 4 along the Atlantic coasts of Norway and Finland.
Named in honor of former Brite-O-Matic Manufacturing, Inc. President Lynne Mohr, who died in 2020 following complications from liver cancer, the fundraising bike ride will be completed by Mohr’s cousin George Maurer, a Minneapolis-based musician and adventure bicyclist. Mohr worked at Brite-O-Matic, the specialty car wash systems manufacturer founded by her father William Gasser, from age 14 through her retirement in 2018, and was widely known for her generosity, philanthropy and dedication to the manufacturing industry, including serving as a unifying force on legislative policy as a Board member of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association.
Maurer’s ride will raise money to support The Lynne Mohr Endowment for trade scholarships administrated by the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association Education Foundation, which funds post-secondary education for Illinois students pursuing the trades that Mohr respected and supported as part of her legacy.
During the 30 days earmarked for the ride, Maurer will cover a 1,700-mile trek through the Arctic Circle, including a stop in Nordkapp, Norway, the northernmost settlement on mainland Europe. The goal is to raise an additional $20,000 for the Lynne Mohr Endowment with the Foundation. Donations supporting the endowment can be made at https://bit.ly/44SJMOz or by going to https://www.gofundme.com and searching for “Lynne Mohr.”
“Every year, students who are interested in manufacturing and the skilled trades receive scholarships from the funds raised from this ride, ensuring they have the resources needed to pursue an exciting and fulfilling career path. We are honored to continue this legacy in Lynne’s memory and thank George for his dedication to this important cause,” said Sarah Hartwick, Vice President of Education & Workforce Policy at the IMA and Executive Director of the IMA Education Foundation.
Maurer has raised more than $30,000 for the IMA’s Education Foundation, and his first two rides have funded scholarships awarded to four students pursuing careers in the areas of electric vehicles and construction management.
About the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA)
The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association is the only statewide association dedicated exclusively to advocating, promoting and strengthening the manufacturing sector in Illinois. The IMA is the oldest and largest state manufacturing trade association in the United States, representing nearly 4,000 companies and facilities. For more information, please visit http://ima-net.org/.