About Us

Joe and his wife Meghan

The SMART Challenge Ride was created by Joe Burgess (BA Alumni Class of '92) to raise funds to assist with tuition costs for students at Bethlehem Academy, a Catholic high school/middle school in Faribault, MN. Joe had a vision of challenging himself and others to go beyond what they think they could do.  The SMART Ride was born!

The mission of Bethlehem Academy is to empower its students and staff to achieve personal, spiritual and academic excellence.  Challenging ourselves to love as Jesus Christ loved, to lead, to serve and to seek the truth.  Veritas.
 
The mission of the SMART Challenge Ride is to help make the great faith-based education at BA affordable to more families in Faribault and the surrounding area. For many of our students, there remains much more need than the financial aid available.  All of the net proceeds from this event go specifically toward expanding the financial aid packages Bethlehem Academy can provide for current and prospective students.

 

End of Day 2 after dinner at Myre Big Island State Park, Austin, MN 2022.

 

 

 

Day 1, 2023 - Prayer and blessing before departing Bethlehem Academy.