Technical Issues
World T.E.A.M. recommends using Microsoft Edge, Safari and Firefox when visiting the Face of America Gettysburg website. Chrome can also be used, but it is not recommended as user plugin programs may create issues. Using older browsers, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer, are not recommended. It is also recommended to reach the site using newer operating systems, such as Windows 10 or the latest version of Android and Mac OS.
Returning athletes and volunteers from previous Face of America Gettysburg programs do not need to create a new user account.
If you already created an account for this year’s program and forgot your password, you may request a password reset through our Login page.
Athletes and volunteers who register for Face of America Gettysburg are automatically added to our program email distribution list. If you have not been receiving regular emailed communication from World T.E.A.M. regarding the program, you may need to white list our domain – worldteamsports.org – in your email service so mail is delivered. In many instances, mail may be delivered, but end up in your spam folder (this is particularly true for major free services such as Gmail or Yahoo). Please review your spam filter to see if the emails are waiting – if they are, identify as “not spam” and move to your in-box. You may also need to white list the address. If you are a returning athlete or volunteer, it is also possible that you may have at some point in the past opted out of incoming emails from our email service. If this is the case, you may opt back into the active list.
Registration
World T.E.A.M. encourages individual athletes to join teams to participate in Face of America Gettysburg. Athletes are not required to do so, however, and may register as individual riders.
Our Face of America Gettysburg registration and fundraising site uses coding cookies to remember previous visitors, so if you discover you are running into difficulties in registering online (or are having problems in donating to a rider), try clearing your Internet browser memory and cache. In most browsers, you can clear the history through the browser’s “Tools” or “Options” tab. Alternately, if you have more than one browser available on your computer, try using your alternate browser. This often happens when two or more participants use a single computer to register.
Travel
If you are an athlete making your own air transportation arrangements to Arlington for Face of America Gettysburg, you should select a return flight home that leaves Reagan National Airport no earlier than 8 p.m.
The ride arrives in Gettysburg, about 120 miles to the north, at about 1:00 p.m. Return buses to Arlington leave at 3:00 p.m. Depending on DC area traffic, the drive will take 120 to 150 minutes. Buses return direct to the host hotel, and athletes traveling by air transfer to the hotel shuttle for the three minute drive to Reagan National Airport.
With additional time suggested for TSA screening at the airport, any flight scheduled prior to an 8 p.m. departure may be difficult or even impossible to make. Avoid air transportation stress by scheduling a later flight.
Adaptive athletes from outside the greater Washington D.C. metropolitan region may be eligible for need based transportation assistance grants from World T.E.A.M. Funding is limited. Please review our adaptive athletes page for more information. Grants for travel assistance are sent following the conclusion of the event and will not exceed the preapproved grant amount.
Lodging
Owing to room availability, participants should make their lodging reservations as soon as possible for the best selection. It is recommended your reservation be made by early February. A complete list of lodging properties in Frederick, as well as our host hotel in Arlington, can be found on our Event Logistics page.
World T.E.A.M. transports small overnight bags from our host hotels in Arlington to Frederick on Saturday morning and then to Gettysburg and back to Arlington on Sunday. Be sure your bag is clearly identified so you can find it once it unloaded. Look for the appropriate truck to transport your bag at the ride start each day. Bags can also be retrieved in Gettysburg if you have alternate transportation planned for your return home on Sunday afternoon. If you are taking a bus back to Arlington on Sunday afternoon, your bike or hand cycle will also be transported to the host hotel by truck for pick up.
World T.E.A.M. covers the costs of lodging for registered adaptive athlete participants for Friday and Saturday evenings (important note: the participant must cover their own incidental costs, such as room service, etc.). Registered adaptive athletes also receive meals at no cost, a bicycle or hand cycle rental if needed. Adaptive athletes may receive transportation assistance, including gas reimbursement for private vehicle travel or air transportation, if from outside the Washington D.C. area.
Meals
Riding at Face of America Gettysburg doesn’t mean you have to go hungry, or stop at convenience stores along the way. During the ride, rest stops about every ten miles offer riders water and sports drinks to replenish bottles, as well as quick energy snack foods such as fruit. At the Friday evening dinner in Arlington, a full meal is offered to all participating athletes and invited volunteers who made reservations during the registration process (no tickets will be available the day of the dinner or at the door). This dinner usually includes pasta, some meat (such as chicken or fish), vegetables, and a salad. Dessert is also available following the meal. A cash bar provides beverages. If you have food allergies or food preferences, note that salad will be your primary food. Plan accordingly.
On Saturday, quick ride food will be available at the rest stop closest to noon (usually a selection of sub sandwiches, a beverage and a cookie) but dinner in Frederick will be on your own. Fortunately, there are several restaurants near the hotels. Participating adaptive athletes and their attending caregivers who make prior reservations will be provided dinner vouchers for the Hilton Garden Inn restaurant on Saturday evening.
On Sunday, all participants can join the Gettysburg finish line BBQ featuring roasted chicken, sides, and a variety of beverages. Volunteers from Gettysburg usually bring a huge selection of tasty desserts, from cakes to pies to cookies, fudge, brownies, etc. to complete your day.
Meals for Face of America Gettysburg are limited to registered participants and to registered caregivers for participating adaptive athletes. If you have a friend or family member who would like to enjoy a meal, additional Friday dinner and Sunday lunch meal tickets may be purchased from our Face of America Gettysburg online store prior to the reservation deadline. Note: our Saturday quick lunches are provided only to participating athletes, registered caregivers and qualifying volunteers.
Athletes and invited volunteers planning on attending the Friday dinner in Arlington must opt-in for this meal through a free online reservation. The dinner is a great opportunity to meet and greet other ride participants, as well as enjoy a tasty meal. Critical information about the ride and World T.E.A.M. is provided following the meal. If you do not attend, you will be at a disadvantage during the weekend.
No tickets will be available the day of the dinner or at the door.
Participating adaptive athletes may choose to enjoy dinner at the Hilton Garden Inn Garden Grille & Bar on Saturday evening. Dinner reservations for those who requested the dinner will be provided to the Hilton Garden Inn prior to the weekend. These reservations are non-transferable, and may not be converted to cash. Vouchers are valid only for in-restaurant dining on the evening of Saturday, April 20; no room service.
Participant Check-In
Participants who cannot attend the Friday afternoon check-in can do so early Saturday morning from 5:30 to 6:30, prior to the ride start. This is hosted on the lower level of the Hyatt Regency Crystal City.
The Ride
Standard road bike gear is recommended for Face of America Gettysburg participants. This includes a required bicycling helmet, a pair of cycling shorts, cycling gloves and cycling shoes. All participants will receive at check-in the official Face of America Gettysburg jersey; many riders wear their team erseys on Saturday, then switch to the official jersey for Sunday and the finish in Gettysburg.
It is always a good idea to have some sort of cycling rain coat or shell in case of rain (some riders will also bring a light vest or jacket for early morning riding when it is cool). Sunglasses and sun screen are a must if it is sunny.
Be certain to bring with you a current photo identification card for entry into Joint Base Fort Myer/Henderson Hall on Saturday morning.
Face of America Gettysburg is a fully-supported cycling challenge. This means that free SAG wagons – passenger vans with trailers – travel with the athletes from Arlington to Frederick to Gettysburg. If you get tired, or if your bike has a flat or unexpected mechanical problem, pull off to the side of the road and wait for a ride marshal. The marshal will flag down a SAG wagon – the driver or assistant will help you load your bike onto the trailer and you can ride as a passenger to the next rest stop.
The Maps section of our Face of America Gettysburg route page includes downloadable PDF format maps of our route. In addition, a GPS data file will be available for downloading. Note that these maps and the file will represent the route as permitted with local agencies. There may be last-minute adjustments to the routes depending on local conditions and construction.
Many able-bodied riders have never participated in a bicycle ride with participants on recumbent bikes and hand cycles. You’ll find that many of the adaptive riders with disabilities are exceptionally fit and can keep up with the able-bodied riders. Keep in mind, though, that many of the riders on hand cycles will slow while climbing hills. And, on long descents, they’ll ride at very high speeds. To avoid any accidents or unpleasant moments during the ride, always keep to the right, allowing faster riders to pass safely. Listen for commands from riders and from bike marshals. While the Face of America is on a controlled course with bike marshals and moto escorts, remember you still are riding on open public roads. Be aware of your surroundings – watch for drivers pulling unexpectedly into the ride or trying to pass. And, watch for the safety of your companion riders. Sometimes, deep in conversation, riders will not notice a potentially dangerous situation – let them know.
Face of America Gettysburg is all about teamwork and cooperation, and many of the participating athletes with disabilities welcome assistance in climbing the steeper hills. Please ask first, though, as some participants prefer to climb hills on their own (some will even post “do not help” signs on their hand cycles!). If you are interested in regularly assisting hand cyclists with their “push poles,” plan on attending our free training clinic at the Hyatt Regency on Friday afternoon.
All participating riders are alerted by ride marshals of important information in emergencies – please follow the directions of the marshals, who are watching for your safety. If you are involved in a riding accident, or witness an accident, alert a ride marshal immediately for timely assistance.
Owing to our insurance policy and permitting regulations, we require each person who is riding a bicycle, hand cycle or recumbent bike in Face of America Gettysburg register as a ride participant. Persons driving private vehicles must not follow the athletes, or drive within the group, as our local and state ride permits are specific as to the number of authorized vehicles in the caravan. If you are driving, use an alternate route to reach rest areas, lunch stops, and hotels (you’ll find alternate routes will allow you to reach these locations quickly, without the traffic congestion and backups that occur along the ride route).
All participants who are returning to the Hyatt Regency in Arlington following Face of America Gettysburg should register for the Sunday afternoon return bus. These optional free buses leave Gettysburg at approximately 3 p.m. Sunday, and arrive at our host hotel in Arlington between 5 and 6 p.m. (if you are flying out from Reagan National Airport that evening, transfer to the free hotel shuttle for the three minute ride to the terminal). You must have registered to ride the Arlington return bus. Seats can be reserved at the time of registration, but if you didn’t reserve your seat at that time, you may do so through an email message. Note there are a limited number of available seats, so do not wait until the last moment to make your reservation. If you are meeting friends or family in Gettysburg on Sunday afternoon, you do not need a bus ticket.
There also is a late Friday morning bus from Gettysburg to Arlington – this is a convenient free option for riders from the north and west who wish to travel directly home Sunday afternoon following the ride conclusion.
Fundraising
Many teams work together at Face of America Gettysburg to organize combined fundraising events in support of their team members. These include happy hours at local restaurants, comedy fundraisers, and more. For potential ideas and strategies, please visit our fundraising page. In addition to helpful forms for downloading and printing, you will also find a selection of tips and ideas for group and individual fundraising.
All registered athletes must meet their fundraising commitment to participate. Teams are not permitted to combine fundraising raised by individual members. After April 1 and prior to the April 12 commitment deadline, however, team captains may submit an email request for the distribution of team funds raised in a group fundraising event or by direct team donation to specified team members to assist them in meeting their minimum.
Incoming donations, grants, and sponsor support for Face of America Gettysburg primarily covers the program costs. This includes costs such as permitting, meals, rider jerseys, SAG vans, rest stops, etc. In addition, Face of America is the largest fundraiser to support World TEAM operations throughout the year.
World T.E.A.M. is a federally-recognized 501(c)3 not-for-profit entity based in Boston, Massachusetts and incorporated in North Carolina. Detailed financial information about the organization, including IRS Form 990s, recent audited financial statement, and annual reviews can be found on our organization’s financial page. In 2023, 89 cents of every incoming dollar went directly toward supporting our sporting programs and our participating athletes.
Participants who receive checks from donors in support of their fundraising should package and mail these to World T.E.A.M.’s finance office in Patchogue, New York. Please include a note as to which fundraising account should be credited. All checks must be received no later than April 11 to be added before the deadline. Our mailing address for donations is:
World T.E.A.M.
Face of America
PO Box 884
Patchogue, NY 11772-0884
Please note that checks are processed by our finance office in batches, and only twice weekly. So, please allow up to three weeks for processing and adding to your online fundraising page. Once the checks are entered, and are posted, you will receive an automated email listing the donation. Donors receive emailed acknowledgements only when they include an email address with their donation. Our non-profit organization mails acknowledgement letters for our larger donations, usually $250 or more.
Optionally, you may enter your checks as pledges on your fundraising site prior to mailing. Here is the procedure to enter your pledged checks:
- Log into your personal fundraising center.
- On your Overview tab, you’ll find a red box “Enter Gifts” in the lower left corner. Click on this.
- On the pledge page, select your donation pledge (if not one of the set amounts, type in the amount in the box).
- In the method of payment, click on the drop-down menu to the right and select “Check.”
- Enter the check number.
- If the donor wants to be on your Honor Roll, type in the name and click the box if you want to show the amount.
- Add the personal information where indicated. The fields with asterisks are required; if you want an acknowledgement to be sent at the time of the donation processing, enter the email. The full address should be entered for larger donations of $250 or more, as we will mail printed acknowledgement letters to donors.
- Click on the green submit button in the lower right.
Many larger businesses offer employees matching funds for charitable causes. If your company is one that offers matching funds, you will need to first work with your human resources office to arrange for the corporate donation. Often, the company or their corporate giving partner will contact World T.E.A.M. to inquire if a donation has been made and to confirm the dollar amount. Once we have confirmed, the matching donation will be mailed to us within a month or just a few weeks. We can credit your account once the donation has been received, but you should continue to monitor. Check our donation page for a matching gift search engine with more details of companies that match.
Facebook makes it easy to raise funds for nonprofit organizations by offering a convenient donate button you can include in posts.
Please note donations are not made to World T.E.A.M. but to Facebook’s non-profit owned for profit corporation, Network for Good. Donations are processed by Network for Good and transferred to World T.E.A.M. following the 15th of each month. This means it may take a few weeks for the donation to arrive.
To receive credit for your personal fundraising account, you need to submit by email a complete listing of the donations and the dates of the donations, including the donor name (and address if available). If you are participating in more than one World T.E.A.M. program, you also will need to designate to which program the donations is to be applied.
Miscellaneous
World T.E.A.M.‘s rental bike coordinator will contact all registered adaptive athletes by email message to determine if a rental is needed. An online reservation form will allow the athlete to reserve a specific type of bike – this form must be completed by the posted early April deadline. The coordinator will review submissions through this reservation site, and will make arrangements for an appropriate bike rental. Athletes should bring their own bicycle helmet, though we have a limited number of helmets available that can be borrowed for the weekend.
If you are a registered, active participant and find that you are unable to start the ride on Saturday or on Sunday owing to injury or other reasons, you will be directed to ride in our SAG or other vehicles to that day’s ride conclusion.
For all participants, if you find you are unable attend Face of America Gettysburg, notify World T.E.A.M. as soon as possible by email message. You may change your registration to our virtual participant category if you want to remain active in the event, useful if you are a member of a team. Registration fees and donations are not refundable. You may assign donations to another participant or to your team if you wish. In addition, ticket purchases for meals or the Friday bus are not refundable. Withdrawals following March 1, 2024 will result in a charge to the credit account provided at registration to meet your fundraising commitment.
For our adaptive athletes and caregivers, if you have already received a transportation or lodging confirmation from our coordinators, you may be liable for the full reservation(s) cost if your cancellation is not owing to official military orders or a medical emergency. Include a full explanation and any accompanying documentation (such as a doctor’s statement on the physician’s letterhead) with your email notification to avoid a charge to your provided credit account.
World T.E.A.M. greatly appreciates our new and returning volunteers! Individuals who have an interest in volunteering for Face of America Gettysburg should first register online. During the registration process, volunteer candidates can indicate the days they are available, their interests and their volunteer background. Our volunteer committee will review all interested candidates and look for a match for days and interests. If you match one of the available opportunities, you will be contacted directly by the appropriate committee coordinator. All confirmed volunteers will receive a volunteer tee-shirt, and may qualify for selected meals and lodging. Check with your volunteer coordinator to see what you receive for your assistance.