Pro Cyclists Lead Community Service Event at Pasadena’s Newest Private School – Pasadena Now
In a unique blend of professional sports and community service, nearly 100 cyclists rode through Pasadena's streets at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 9, led by Tour de France competitor Neilson Powless and Olympic athlete Coryn Labecki. The group gathered at EF Academy Pasadena, LA's newest private day and boarding school, before helping local students build bicycles for underprivileged youth.
The 25-mile community ride, organized on EF's new high school campus in Pasadena, culminated in the assembly of 25 youth bicycles provided through the nonprofit Bikes for Goodness Sake. These bikes will be distributed through the Pasadena Recreation Center, transforming how the school's global connections create local impact.
"At EF Academy, our students are part of something truly unique," said Sally Mingarelli, Head of School at EF Academy Pasadena. "Through our connection with the global network of EF Education First, including the EF Pro Cycling team, our students have access to experiences that extend beyond the classroom. Where else can young minds collaborate in multicultural teams, while also partnering with world-class athletes to make a tangible impact on their community?"
The initiative emerged from the school's signature Innovation and Impact program, which aligns student projects with the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals. It builds upon a successful 2023 campus bike share program that repurposed unused bicycles for student transportation. When the original team of seniors graduated in 2023, new students stepped forward to continue and expand the program, leading to this community bike-building initiative.
Koko Panossian, Director of Pasadena's Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department, praised the initiative: "It's incredible to see both local and international students, who have come to call Pasadena their home, give back to the community in such a meaningful way. Their commitment to making a positive impact right here in our city is truly inspiring, and we are excited to share these bicycles with the youth of Pasadena."
The event brought together two distinct branches of the EF Education First organization: EF Academy Pasadena, which hosts students from more than 30 countries, and EF Pro Cycling, one of the world's most prestigious professional cycling organizations and the longest-running team in the United States. The cycling team, acquired by EF Education First in 2017, recently expanded to include a women's team, EF-Oatly-Cannondale, in 2024.
"I think this event is a really great opportunity for our kids to do something beyond our immediate community, and get involved with other folks who are in the cycling world," said Kaela Clapp, EF Academy Dean of Academics.
The presence of professional cyclists Powless and Labecki added star power to the event. Powless, the first Native American rider to compete in the Tour de France, recently won Gran Piemonte with a 43-kilometer solo attack. Labecki brings impressive credentials as a former U.S. National Road Race Champion with over 70 national titles to her name.
The team, which features prominently in Netflix's Tour de France: Unchained, has been working to promote inclusivity in cycling through various initiatives, including sponsoring new teams at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs).
The day's activities reflected EF Education First's broader mission of "opening the world through education," while demonstrating how global institutions can create meaningful local impact. With staff and riders from more than 20 countries, the professional cycling team embodies the same international spirit that characterizes the academy's student body, which represents more than 30 nations.
