Mark Kariya | July 24, 2024
The 10th Kurt Caselli Foundation (KCF) MotoDoffo Fundraiser at the Doffo Winery, June 8, was a perfect opportunity for the motorcycle community to gather and appreciate an evening of fun and games, good food and beverages, plus meeting like-minded friends, old and new—all with the underlying purpose of raising money for the KCF’s mission of funding various safety initiatives to benefit the off-road racer and rider.
KCF fall 2024 scholarship winners Cole Bailey (left) and Ian Burke (right) accepted their ceremonial checks from Nancy “Momma” Caselli (center) and the KCF Board of Directors.
Story and Photos by Mark Kariya
The foundation’s namesake died of injuries sustained while leading the 2013 SCORE Baja 1000. At 30, he’d amassed an enviable record of race wins and numerous significant championships. Still, his life philosophy resonated, if not more, with his legion of fans worldwide. “Be remembered as a person, not just a racer” was one of his driving mantras.
The Doffo Winery is an excellent venue for the KCF fundraiser.
Among the latest beneficiaries of the KCF’s programs were Idaho’s Cole Bailey and Ian Burke from California. Both received $6600 scholarships for the fall 2024 semester as they continue to further their educations. (Why $6600? Caselli’s chosen racing number was 66.) Those scholarships are possible due to the money raised by things like the raffles, silent auctions and drawings for a variety of prizes, with the top of the list at the MotoDoffo event being the 2024 KTM 890 Adventure R Rally donated by KTM North America. This limited-edition machine (one of only 100 allotted by the factory to North America!) went to Timothy Sammis of Illinois, who was pleasantly surprised when KCF President Donny Emler Jr. called his phone live on stage to give him the good news.
Winning is exciting, whether it’s a race or, in this case, a raffle.
It will take a while to tabulate the total amount raised at this latest event. Consider that last year’s MotoDoffo fundraiser generated $43,700. In contrast, the 11th Kurt Caselli Ride Day last December raised $64,251. As a 501(c)3 organization, it has enjoyed strong support from the motorcycle community, raising well over $2 million since its inception in 2013.
The KCF’s only other major event this year will be the 12th annual Kurt Caselli Ride Day on December 7, at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. For the latest KCF news, including updated MotoDoffo numbers when they become available, visit www.kurtcaselli.com.
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Update July 24, 2024
10th Annual Caselli MotoDoffo Event Raises Nearly $50,000 for The Kurt Caselli Foundation’s Safety Initiatives & Educational Scholarships
The following is a press release from KCF…
The Kurt Caselli Foundation is thrilled to announce the success of its 10th annual Caselli MotoDoffo Fundraising Event, held on Saturday, June 8 at Doffo Winery, which raised $49,843 to support our safety initiatives and educational scholarships. The event brought together 337 guests, including industry leaders, riders, racers, and supporters, all dedicated to Protecting and Supporting the Lives of Off-Road Riders.
During the event, the KCF Board presented several key highlights and announcements. The Fall 2024 Kurt Caselli Scholarship recipients, Ian Burke of San Bernardino, CA, and Cole Bailey of Nampa, ID, were recognized on stage. To date, we have awarded 58 scholarships totaling $165,500. Timothy Sammis of Peoria, Illinois, won the 2024 KTM 890 Adventure R Rally special edition motorcycle, one of only 100 in the United States. The Kurt Caselli Foundation introduced its offering of the Garmin InReach Mini 2 satellite device, which provides reliable communication and emergency response capabilities, significantly enhancing rider safety. Available at KurtCaselli.com.
Over the past year, we have provided $35,800 in course markings alone to ensure off-road races are safely and consistently marked, reducing risks for racers. Our Riders 1st Responders Program remains a top priority, training 25 attendees per session in vital First Aid and CPR skills. Each session costs around $4,000 to host, with higher expenses for larger or non-local sessions. This training equips participants with life-saving knowledge and aligns with our mission to enhance rider safety. Since 2017, we have certified 258 individuals, with some attendees already sharing stories of lives saved thanks to this training.
