March 10, 2021

We are happy to announce that Project ONE4NINE is giving 49% of their gross profit for each of these Special Edition Jerseys sold to San Diego VeloYouth. Order by March 17, 2020 by emailing them at info@one4nine.cc

May 29, 2020

Summer is almost here! We’d like to share some updates from VeloYouth, including how we are maintaining distanced contact with our school partners to anticipate our summer and fall plans.

Thank you to our community members continuing to donate or purchase used cycling parts and equipment from us- we greatly appreciate support and we look forward to rescheduling the VeloSwap fundraiser later this year!

April 7, 2020

The latest issue of our newsletter is here! Please take a moment and click this link to read the stories shared, the words from VeloYouth President Matthew Hoffmann, and the new updates on ways you can help us continue to grow (like donating a car!).

August 9, 2019

Mark your calendars for another Day At The Track with San Diego VeloYouth. Ride the track, talk with graduates & enjoy refreshments on Saturday, August 17 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at the San Diego Velodrome, 2221 Morley Field Drive, Balboa Park. Attendees advised to bring flat-sole/athletic shoes to ride the single gear bikes on the track. Directions to the track.

January 3, 2019

Mark your calendars for the 2nd Annual fundraising event at Sbicca’s in Del Mar with celebrity bartenders John Sarkisian and Dan Sbicca slinging drinks for a great cause. Be there on Thursday, January 10 at 5pm for some laughs with friends and to learn more about San Diego VeloYouth. Special thanks to Sbicca’s for hosting and our two celebrity bartenders for taking the time to make VeloYouth a priority.

July 2, 2018

Our latest newsletter is available. Follow this link to the full PDF of our latest newsletter (Summer 2018: Volume 10, Issue 2). This newsletter volume includes articles about Keeping Our Promise, and some special ways that we were able to positively impact students at Crawford High School, along with Coach Matt’s thoughts about Intersections, those pauses in life when we have the opportunity to engage in new conversations.

Also, mark your calendars for A Day At The Track on Monday, Sep 17th.  We invite you to visit us at the San Diego Velodrome in Balboa Park for a meet and greet with some of our graduates and an opportunity to ride the velodrome as they do.  Watch for the upcoming flier on Facebook or contact us for more information. https://www.facebook.com/events/1660556717388939/

May 2, 2018

Great article about VeloYouth from the The Star-News, "Cycling Program Focuses on Teen Confidence, Hard Work" written by Robert Moreno.

Excerpt from the article: Coaches use a curriculum called STARS — Self-Respect, Teamwork, Achievement, Responsibility, and Success to teach disadvantage teenagers the importance of values. “We have a cycling program that brings kids down to the track but not only to teach cycling, more so that we teach values,” said Matthew Hoffmann, San Diego Velo Youth President and Director of Youth Program Development.

Another excerpt: Chula Vista Middle School teacher Sandra Bishop said she has seen the impacts Velo Youth has had on students at Chula Vista Middle School. “The coaches at Velo Youth really take the time to help them see their future, and what are the possibilities for them and setting goals,” she said. “The value of earning a bike that they’ve done on their own without their parents giving it to them means a lot to them."

May 1, 2018

Here's a nice article from the San Diego Chronicle, "San Diego Velodrome: Supporting Local Racing and Enriching Young Lives" by Cesar Hernandez about the San Diego Velodrome, but more importantly about the impact of San Diego VeloYouth. Excerpt from the article text:

"There are so many things that it [VeloYouth] provides, but in short, it provides freedom and the opportunity for growth. What we do is we teach a values-based program," said Matt Hoffmann, [Director of VeloYouth Programs. “What our true goal is, is to give kids self-confidence, self-esteem and the ability to unlock their own potential. We have a tagline, we say we are ‘teaching values, one lap at a time’ using the velodrome.” Cycling is the common denominator here, and through exercising on the track, Hoffmann is able to help shape young lives. “Active learning or engaged learning are, by far, a better way of learning. If I took the kids and started talking about self-respect or teamwork, you get two or three minutes of their attention and then they’re gone,” stated Hoffmann. “That’s just the reality, but if they get to ride and experience what we’re talking about, they can then take part in experiential learning.”

April 24, 2018

This morning, SDVY Director of Programs Matthew Hoffmann, was on KUSI News talking about VeloYouth. Check it out: KUSI News Interview Link. Thanks Bob "Sully" Sullivan and @ Jim Benedict for making it happen!
#veloyouth #sandiegoveloyouth #changinglivesonelapatatime

April 18, 2018

Fabulous piece from FOX 5 San Diego by Tabitha Lipkin about San Diego VeloYouth with Matthew Hoffmann, featuring kids from the Monarch School San Diego program! If you missed it on TV, view it here: https://youtu.be/Ek0c0vPqoY4

April 11, 2018

Our latest newsletter is available. Follow this link to the full PDF of our latest newsletter (Spring 2018: Volume 10, Issue 1). This newsletter volume includes an on-going success story with one of VeloYouth's graduates, along with a big thanks to both Sbicca's, for a wonderful and successful fundraising event, and Las Patronas for a generous donation. It's capped with a nice Coach's Corner article from Board President, Matt Hoffmann.

April 4, 2018

In preparation for the Spring VeloSwap at the San Diego Velodrome, please donate new & used cycling gear to San Diego VeloYouth!
Bring your new and used cycling gear: clothing, equipment, bikes, etc. to Adams Avenue Bicycles (2602 Adams Avenue, San Diego), Revolution Bike Shop (235 South Hwy 101, Solana Beach), and/or Holland Cycles (7928 Convoy Court, San Diego). Your gift will positively impact youth cyclists and at-risk kids. Drop Off Sunday, April 1 to Friday, April 20. (Check for store hours).

March 30, 2018

On February 28, 2018, San Diego VeloYouth received amazing news from Greg Cox, Supervisor, First District, San Diego. Mr Cox had approved a grant in the amount $4,000 to San Diego VeloYouth for "the purchase of equipment, supplies for youth cyclists including jerseys, shorts, helmets, and bicycles." We are honored and grateful for the San Diego County Board of Supervisors under the direction of Mr Cox to provide us this necessary and generous funding. We are always working toward our mission of changing values one lap at a time, and this critical funding allows us to complete this mission to the utmost of our collective ability.

March 25, 2018

Come join us for Sip & Support on April 25th.
San Diego VeloYouth (SDVY) is pleased to announce a South Bay reception/fundraiser on Wednesday, April 25th 5:00pm to 7:30pm at Romesco Mexiterranean Bistro, 4346 Bonita Road, Bonita, CA 91902. Come meet the VeloYouth Board, sip some amazing cocktails, and try out some great food. This is a great chance to learn more about the SDVY program, meet some of the youth, and also the Board.

For a printable PDF of the flyer to the right, please click here.

February 26, 2018

Jacobo Melcer named to San Diego VeloYouth Board of Directors

San Diego VeloYouth is proud to announce the addition of Jacobo Melcer to the SDVY Board of Directors. It is truly an honor to have Jacobo on the Board to continue to build VeloYouth and continue its mission of "changing lives one lap at a time."

Jacobo co-founded and served as CEO of FrontCom.com, as well as Chairman and President of CPM Electronics, Inc., a leading Distributor of telecommunications and electronics products in Latin America. Mr. Melcer received a Physics Degree from the Universidad National de Mexico (UNAM).

Jacobo is a dedicated cyclist, both recreationally and competitively since his teenage years in Mexico. “Jacobo brings a wealth of professional experience to the VeloYouth Board, especially his great connections to the South Bay community” stated Matt Hoffmann, President of VeloYouth.

February 20, 2018

THANK YOU to Las Patronas for granting funds for (80) new San Diego VeloYouth jerseys. Las Patronas is a philanthropic organization with a long history of giving. Since its inception in 1946, Las Patronas has donated over $20 million to over a thousand charitable institutions in San Diego.

February 13, 2018

From KPBS, San Diego Sports Program Teaches Teens Life Lessons Through Cycling by Matthew Bowler
"Teenagers from low-income schools have a chance to earn a new bike and learn a new sport at the San Diego Velodrome in Balboa Park. The San Diego VeloYouth Program reaches out to more than 100 students every year. Program director Matt Hoffmann said they work with at-risk teens from around San Diego and the South Bay. 'If they've gone through the program, done their community service, they had positive participation and great attendance, they earn a bike, a lock and a helmet at the end of our program,' Hoffmann said. Hoffmann teaches kids how to ride bikes on the Velodrome track. He helps motivate them off the track with lessons in teamwork, personal responsibility and healthy competition. According to the VeloYouth web site, more than 500 students have earned bikes through the program since 2006."

February 1, 2018

San Diego VeloYouth (SDVY) held a celebrity bartender fundraiser January 31 at Sbicca restaurant in Del Mar. The two local celebrities and cycling gurus were Dan Sbicca and John Sarkisian. With their efforts, along with the organizing effort of Jim Benedict and his fellow SDVY Board Members, the event was a great success. Raising just under $40,000, the night has set into motion the expansion of the SDVY program to reach more schools and even more at-risk youth. SDVY is extremely greatful to all who attended and gave generously. Without the support of the community, SDVY would not exist. Look out for another amazing fundraising event in the South Bay in the near future.

November 25, 2017

November 9, 2017

We are very proud to announce a new participating school in our VeloYouth values-based cycling program—Crawford High School. “With the help of Mark Braun at Crawford, we are building an exciting and relevant program to help build self esteem and pride with these high school students,” stated Matt Hoffmann, Director of Youth Programs. And thanks also to Howard Oleff for leading us to Mark. The six week program is currently in progress with our day of Giving Back and Paying It Forward scheduled for December 2nd and graduation on December 6th.

October 25, 2017   

San Diego VeloYouth congratulates to our Hoover High School fall semester graduating class. Twenty-one (21) boys and girls from Hoover High successfully participated in our 6 week program.  “I am happy to report that 80% of all participants graduated from the program and earned a FREE bike,” stated Matt Hoffmann, Director of Youth Programs. “Having a bike, with helmet and lock, will change their lives.  Not only the pride of earning a bike, but gaining confidence and self-esteem validates our powerful messaging”.

August 24, 2017

We are excited to announce that we have secured the services of both LAK Advertising and Merrill Marketing/Communications to help with our advertising and PR outreach. “Many thanks to Kim Merrill and Chelle Struve for all of your tireless energy and expertise to help us build awareness and VeloYouth branding,” stated Tanya Landry, Co-Founder of VeloYouth.

And a big thanks to the Sully team lead by Chris Janikas for building our TV and radio PSA program both in English and in Spanish.

April 15, 2016

VeloYouth is excited to announce that Rob Panzera, Robert Kaplan and Marty Katz have joined our board of directors. The three bring a broad range of business acumen and connections in the bicycle industry.

Mr. Panzera owns a very well known and popular bicycle event management company – CCSD. He is highly connected in the bicycle industry in San Diego and nationwide.

Dr. Kaplan is, among other activities, a professor at UCSD. He also sits on the board of the Challenged Athletes Foundation. When not providing leadership at the San Diego Opera, he will help us build and expand our mission and influence in our community.

Mr. Katz is the senior partner at Wood Phillips, an intellectual property law firm. Marty's legal, regulatory, risk assessment experience is an invaluable asset to the San Diego VeloYouth Board as the program expands

December 2, 2016

In tandem with our Annual Giving Campaign, San Diego VeloYouth (SDVY) (a.k.a. Quality of Life Connections) is launching the official documentary of Matt Hoffmann Race Across America (RAAM). If you missed the live viewings in late 2015 and early 2016, now's your chance to see the documentary in its entirety. Check out Matt's 2015 RAAM adventure and how the SDVY program, and the kids in the program, inspired him to keep pushing through pain and sleep deprivation to the ultimate goal of finishing in Annapolis, Maryland. The video is FREE, but we are asking for a suggested donation of US$10.00 (ten dollars) for SDVY for video viewing. 100% of donations for video viewing go directly to SDVY.

Make your US$10.00 donation here:

November 29, 2016

Join our Annual Giving Campaign! We invite you to join us in our celebration so that together we can bring renewed energy and strength to SDVY. With your support, we will raise $120,000 this year so that we can continue our mission and ignite a spark of hope and change in our kids. PDF of Annual Giving Campaign donation form HERE.

November 15, 2016

Our latest newsletter is available. Follow this link to the full PDF of our latest newsletter (Fall/Winter 2016: Volume 8, Issue 3). This newsletter volume includes information from coaches and Board members and how VeloYouth impacts their lives in positive ways, while helping at-risk youth achieve more success through community in their everyday lives.

September 1, 2016

Our latest newsletter is available. Follow this link to the full PDF of our latest newsletter (Summer 2016: Volume 8, Issue 2). This newsletter volume includes a wrap up of our summer program with Chula Vista Middle School, plus information on the launch of both a VeloYouth program and our new Bike Maintenance Vocational Program and Bike Shop at Hoover High School… details in our next newsletter.

April 18, 2016

Our latest newsletter is available. Follow this link to the full PDF of our latest newsletter (Spring 2016, Volume 8, Issue 1). This newsletter volume includes the section: Where Are They Now? Hear from some of our program graduates. It is heartwarming to learn of those who are doing well and we willingly share where they are now.

December 24, 2015

Dear Friends and Supporters of San Diego VeloYouth (SDVY),
Follow these links to full PDFs of our latest newsletter (Fall/Winter 2015 Volume 7, Issue 3) and our annual campaign letter (SDVY Giving Campaign). You will find the latest news about our athletes and staff, and an opportunity to extend your support of our amazing program for another year. The news from our kids will touch your heart and hopefully ignite a belief in the endless possibilities in motion at SDVY. This campaign is near and dear to our hearts.
Thank you for checking out the newsletter and the annual campaign letter,
SDVY Board