A couple years ago I did a story on Kiehl’s motorcycle collection at their original since 1851 lotion and potion shop on 3rd Ave & 13th Street in Manhattan during a snowy winter visit to NYC.

Last year Kiehl’s did their first ride benefit. I don’t usually do benefit rides; however, Kiehl’s ride is way different. It’s by invitation-only, and Kiehl’s supplies everything except the bike: food, drinks, coffee, and complimentary goodies for all riders. Most importantly, Kiehl’s donates $10,000 to San Francisco’s Homeless Prenatal Program, an organization “dedicated to helping families recognize their strengths and trust in their capacity to transform their lives.”

This year, the ride took place on June 18. It was also a celebration of Kiehl’s tenth year in San Francisco and its new home on Fillmore Street. The ride began at Fort Baker in Sausalito, continued on to Presidio, Kiehl’s, and back to Fort Baker. The ride crosses the Golden Gate Bridge.

Civic responsibility and a commitment to helping others has been an intrinsic part of the Kiehl’s heritage since the company’s inception in 1851. In fact, Kiehl’s mission statement states that “a worthwhile firm must have a purpose for its existence. Not only the everyday work-a-day purpose to earn a just profit, but beyond that, to improve in some way the quality of the community to which it is committed.”

Kiehl’s president Chris Salgardo and Eric Dane presented $10,000 donation to the Homeless Prenatal Program. In my humble opinion, this is how a responsible charity benefit is run. I encourage others to follow Keihl’s lead. It was a very enjoyable event in a great section of a great city on a beautiful and cool sunny day. Keihl’s is sponsoring more charity runs in other parts of the world. Their next run will be from Philly to Manhattan during the first week in August of this year. Interested? Read Keihl’s Blog for more details.