August 2024, Monterey, CA – Join us in celebrating a significant milestone in Monterey County! The community and media are warmly invited to ITNMontereyCounty’s (Independent Transportation Network Monterey County) 100,000th Ride Celebration and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. 

Founded in 2012 as a Leadership Monterey Peninsula project, ITNMontereyCounty has been dedicated to providing dignified transportation for residents over the age of 60 and visually impaired individuals over 18.

 According to Jessica McKillip, ITNMontereyCounty’s Executive Director, “We are amazed that achieving this milestone of providing 100,000 rides throughout the county is here! It’s joyous to celebrate such an achievement with our entire community. The riders we serve praise our volunteer drivers and our service, relying on us to keep their independence. Our drivers develop close ties with those they drive and gain satisfaction from helping seniors live happier, more independent lives.” 

At a Glance:
What: ITNMontereyCounty’s 100,000th Ride Celebration & Ribbon Cutting
Where: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
When: Thursday, October 24th from 5:00 – 8:00 pm
Brief elected officials’ ceremony at 5:45 pm, and the Salinas Valley Chamber’s Ribbon Cutting.
The event will include a hosted wine reception and delectable food from Rancho Cielo’s Drummond Culinary Academy. There will be a silent auction and raffle for amazing prizes!
Additionally, this family-friendly event will offer fun for everyone including opportunities to enjoy hot laps and go-kart rides. 

Our Celebration will commence with volunteer driver Lynn Robinson escorting member rider Dorothy Fuller in a reenactment of the 100,000th ride in a classic car sponsored by Monterey Touring Vehicles. 

Funds raised will directly support our ValleyLine and NorthLine efforts in rural communities, improving access to critical, medical and life essential travel. Our rural projects serve Veterans, visually impaired adults and seniors over 60. ITNMontereyCounty has proven that reliable transportation not only improves the health and safety of our members but for all drivers on the road. 

Come celebrate this incredible achievement and the impact ITNMontereyCounty has made in our community! RSVP to https://bit.ly/itnmontereycounty100kcelebration or call (831) 233- 3447 

About ITNMontereyCounty 

Dignified transportation for seniors
Transportation has been identified as a top need for Seniors in many areas of Monterey County. Beginning its service in 2012, ITNMontereyCounty (itnmontereycounty.org) is the only nonprofit organization that provides 24 hour/7 days-a-week transportation for seniors (age 60 and older) and visually-impaired adults (age 18 and older) to help them remain independent and active in their community. Supported by members and donors, ITNMontereyCounty is unique in that it provides arm-through-arm, door-through-door service. It provides a higher quality of life by offering any ride for any purpose within our affiliate service area. 

ITNMontereyCounty currently serves over 700 riders annually; delivering over 100,000 trips throughout Monterey County. In 2022, they launched NorthLine and ValleyLine rural projects for “life essential” needs operating Monday through Friday from 7am-7pm. These projects allow Veterans to be included in this program along with seniors who live in rural areas; ideally removing barriers to reliable transportation. Today we continue to support both rural projects in partnership with Aspire HealthPlan; collaborating with fellow nonprofits, city and county dignitaries, and key community stakeholders has been vital to building both rural and pilot projects into sustainable service models we anticipate to continue growing for years to come. 

ITNMontereyCounty relies on volunteers who have been trained and background-checked, and drive at their convenience in their own cars that are insured and inspected. They give rides that are typically less than 20 minutes.Volunteers find it rewarding, meet interesting people while helping others, plus earn mileage credits for themselves or a loved one, or can receive mileage reimbursement. 

Seniors may also trade in their automobile for future transportation credits. The service, which may be used for any purpose, is often to get people to and from critical medical appointments, grocery shopping, recreational activities, and social outings. 

ITNMontereyCounty needs more volunteer drivers and local supporters. More than 70 million Americans –that’s 1 in 4 adults will be over the age of 65 by 2030, and may outlive their ability to drive safely. For more information, to volunteer or donate your car, go to itnmontereycounty.org or call (831) 233-3447. 

About Katherine Freund, Founder of ITNAmerica
The ITN model was born out of near disaster: When Katherine Freund's son was three he was seriously injured by an 84-year-old driver. The accident provoked Freund to react, but instead of lashing out at the driver she became angry at a system ill equipped to support aging residents. Crashes caused by older people were not the problem, Freund knew: They were the result of a transportation system incapable of meeting the needs of an aging population. So she decided to change the system. 

Freund earned her master's degree in public policy, concentrating on transportation for older people from every conceivable angle. The ITN model grew out of that work. Soon she found herself focusing on and solving related problems of resources, logistics, technology and policy that all play critical roles in our transportation system. The result was the Independent Transportation Network. What began as one woman's mission has now become a sustainable transportation solution, an antidote for a growing national problem, a lesson in social entrepreneurship and innovation, and an example of what one woman can do if she puts her mind to it. 

The Independent Transportation Network of America now comprises 10 ITN affiliates in 10 states, a nationwide consortium of Trusted Transportation Partners, the Rides in Sight database, the largest and best listing of senior transportation service providers anywhere, and the new ITNCountry program, which makes the ITN model accessible to every community in the country. 

About WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

The original Laguna Seca Raceway was built in 1957 at a cost of $1.5 million raised from local businesses and individuals on part of the US Army’s Fort Ord (a maneuver area and field artillery target range) after the nearby Pebble Beach Road Races were abandoned for being too dangerous. In 1974, the property was deeded over to the Monterey County Parks Department. The entire facility is owned by Monterey County. 

The first race, held on November 9, 1957, was won by Pete Lovely driving a Ferrari. In the intervening years, the track has hosted USRRC, Can-Am, Trans-Am, Formula 5000, IMSA GT, Champ Car, American Le Mans Series, Grand-Am, Superbike World Championship and MotoGP motorcycle races and the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. 

Perhaps one of the most famous moments of racing took place at the Corkscrew when Alex Zanardi passed Bryan Herta on the inside of the Corkscrew on the last lap of the 1996 CART race to take the victory.