Middle Earth's Relationship to the Tour

The Tour of Somerville Cycling Series event organizer and beneficiary is Middle Earth, a non-profit agency that serves Somerset County youth. Middle Earth has supported the Tour of Somerville for over 30 years, becoming the sole promoter of the Tour in 1997.

Middle Earth organizes the Tour for four main reasons:

• to demonstrate to the community, through their youth's volunteer efforts at the event, that our teenagers are a valuable resource
• to connect our youth and their families to, and give them a sense of pride about, their community
• to develop a healthier community by creating partnerships among sponsors, local civic groups, and community leaders
• to raise funds for Middle Earth's seven youth programs that serve over 1,500 youth each year

Middle Earth has been working with middle and high school children during their out-of-school time for almost 40 years. Their caring staff builds trusting relationships with youth to help them make positive decisions, obtain marketable skills for employment, reach out through volunteerism, improve academics, and connect with more services if needed. They strive to ensure that youth receive the support they deserve to be successful in life. All of their programs are free to youth and guide kids in learning respect for themselves and others, serving the community as volunteers and choosing positive alternatives to gangs, drugs and crime. Their goal is to turn youth into responsible and productive community members.

You can learn more about Middle Earth at www.middleearthnj.org.