Special Events
Interview of John Van Doren, by Mahogeny G. (youth member)
“Thank you John!!!” screamed in unison a room full of appreciative and cheerful CYC youth at CYC”S Annual Summer Leadership Conference held at Fresno State University. About 10 minutes prior to the big “Thank You”, CYC’s Director of Development, Jacque Lyn Lindermen, told everybody in the crowded Fresno State Dining hall about the man that chose to ride his bike across Iowa in order to raise money for CYC. Which is Amazing right? That a man would endure such a huge physical obstacle in order to raise money for youth he doesn’t even know. The awesome guy that rode his bicycle 464 miles across Iowa’s not so flat land, in the middle of the humid summer, is named John Van Doren. Nonetheless, Jacque thought it would be a great idea to show appreciation by taking some time out to send him a video of all of CYC telling him thank you, so he could see the grateful faces he was doing this enormous deed for. Little did I know I would have the opportunity to meet John in person, and also interview him and find out a little about his personal journey that landed him on CYC’s long list of allies.
I meet up with John at his attorney at law office in downtown Sacramento. My first impression of john was that he a very charismatic and laid back guy. He was an open book and he was willing to answer my entire list amateur journalist questions. After the greetings I decided to start off by thanking him on behalf of CYC for his wonderful contribution, and then I got right down to the basic questions like where he grew up and what his occupation was. John told me that he was born and raised in Sacramento. He went to high school in Elk grove. And he eventually went to college and then to Lincoln school of law located in Sacramento also. It took him 4 years to complete law school because he worked and took a night class. John finished law school and has been practicing law for 23 years in Sacramento. His practice focuses on criminal defense and injury claims.
Further along in our conversation I asked him when he started riding. John laughed and said ‘’since I was about 5 years old” I then clarified my question my asking him when did he start seriously riding and then he reply “oh about 3 or 4 years ago”. My next questions were focused on his reason for the bike ride that raised money for CYC and how did he find out about CYC. John explained to me that he had been riding in an annual race called RAGBRAI which stands for Register’s Annual Great Bike Race Across Iowa. He then talked about how this year he wanted to raise money for foster youth because, he was interested in doing some charity work. John talked about when he was in his 2nd year of college he tutored foster youth so this was his way of giving back. So John contacted his long time friend CYC’s board of director, Corey Pohley and told her “I want to raise money for foster youth who should I raise money for” and Corey said “send your check to California Youth Connection”. So the rest was his history. Overall, my interview with john with even better then I hoped and he was an awesome and generous person. And to end on an even more positive note, John will be riding for CYC next year in RAGBRAI! Thank You John!
