SMOKEY POINT — Sound Harley-Davidson of Smokey Point, located at 16212 Smokey Point Blvd., hopes to show that bikers have big hearts, during the two rides for charity that they’re taking part in, June 7 and 13. The Harley-Davidson dealership also recently distinguished itself among its peers with an award.

“Cruise 4 Kids”

Sound Harley will serve as the starting point for Olive Crest’s first “Cruise 4 Kids” June 7, with a $50-per-driver on-site registration between 7-9 a.m. During this time, participating riders will be able to enjoy a pancake breakfast, with a suggested donation price of $5, courtesy of the Marysville Kiwanis Club, and meet Perry King, actor and board member of the American Motorcyclist Association, as well as Jeff Coughlin, director of powertrain for Harley-Davidson.

Olive Crest Homes and Services for Abused Children provides care for abused, abandoned and severely neglected children, and is dedicated to preventing child abuse, and treating and educating at-risk children. Its programs including specialized education, foster care and adoption, family preservation, and residential homes. Bikers participating in the “Cruise 4 Kids” will raise funds for abused children, while competing in a “poker run” for a new $20,000 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail Classic.

“Olive Crest transforms the lives of at-risk children through the healing power of family,” said Kari Korsgren, marketing and events manager for Sound Harley of Smokey Point. “Our HOG members share these same core values, so I know they will be out there in force to support this great cause.”

Sound Harley will join six other Puget Sound Harley-Davidson dealers — Harley of Seattle in Lynnwood, Eastside Harley in Bellevue, Downtown Harley in Renton, Destination Harley in Fife, Northwest Harley in Lacey and Legend Harley in Silverdale — in supporting the “Cruise 4 Kids,” which marks these dealers’ first collaboration on a ride.

“My fellow dealers and I are pulling out all the stops to make this ride as spectacular as possible for our HOGs and other riders,” said Dale Bone, honorary chair of the event and owner of Legend Harley. “We’ve got a fantastic prize, a great cause and an aggressive five-county ride that’s never been done before.”

Maps will be provided offering a recommended route, but participating riders are free to choose their own courses. All riders will start at Sound Harley in Smokey Point and finish at Legend Harley in Silverdale, stopping at the five other Harley-Davidson dealerships along the way. At each dealership, riders will pick up playing cards, and at the end of the ride, the top five poker hands will play to win the 2009 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic. The day will conclude with a $10-per-person barbecue, a band and an awards ceremony.

“We love to help kids,” said Scott Smernis, dealer principal for Sound Harley of Smokey Point. “This is a great opportunity to help children who have come from abused environments find stable and supportive new homes. This is just another example of Harley riders giving back to their local community.”

For information on “Cruise 4 Kids,” log onto www.cruise4kids.org. For information on Olive Crest, log onto www.olivecrest.org. Participating riders who create their own fundraising Web pages, and raise at least $40, will be registered for free.

“That good feeling is not just for bikers,” Bone said. “Anyone can get it by joining the ‘Kids at Heart’ program on the Olive Crest Web site.”

“Hogs for Hearts”

Sound Harley will also serve as the 9 a.m. starting point for the American Heart Association’s first “Hogs for Hearts” ride June 13, with the last bike pulling out by 10 a.m.

The ride will cover 150 miles of road — with stops in Darrington, Concrete, Conway and Silvana — before finishing at Renegade Classics of Everett, located at 620 SE Everett Mall Way. This ride will also be a “poker run,” with participating riders drawing cards at every stop, before they’re treated to a barbecue and live music at the end, as well as prizes for the winners.

Vicki Hartson, an American Heart Association volunteer from Lake Stevens, is organizing the ride.

“We bought our Harley-Davidson last May, and are enjoying riding and meeting other motorcycle riders,” Hartson said. “I have learned in the last year that motorcycle enthusiasts are very passionate about their causes. I decided to join the enthusiasm, and since the American Heart Association is my passion, it was a very easy decision for me.”

Both of Hartson’s parents are heart attack survivors, and other relatives of hers have been affected by it. She is donating all proceeds from the event to the American Heart Association.

“This is another worthy cause,” Smernis said. “It’s one of many that we’re happy to support throughout the year.”

Registration runs $30 per driver, $10 for the first passenger and $5 for additional passengers. You can register by calling Hartson at 425-220-5784, or by picking up an event brochure at Sound Harley of Smokey Point, the Sauk River Trading Post in Darrington, Silvana Meats, or Renegade Classics of Everett. This brochure can also be downloaded from the news and events section at www.soundharley.com.

Gold Bar and Shield Award

Sound Harley was awarded Harley-Davidson’s prestigious Gold Bar and Shield Circle of Excellence Award for 2008, given to the top 25 Harley-Davidson dealerships, out of all 685 of their dealerships in the United States. Sound Harley earned the award based on the sales performance of their motorcycles and motorcycle-related products, as well as evaluations of their customer service and satisfaction, and various operational measures.

“One of the primary reasons the Harley-Davidson brand has such tremendous customer loyalty is because of the efforts of dealers such as Sound Harley,” said Jeff Merten, vice president of North American sales for Harley-Davidson. “We’re really proud to have Scott and Marianne Smernis as part of our Harley-Davidson family.”

Sound Harley has been open since September of 2006, and was previously awarded the Bronze Bar and Shield Circle of Excellence Award in 2007.

According to Smernis, the dealership’s employees have worked very hard to earn their customers’ business, in part by doing business with “a high degree” of honesty and integrity.

“Most dealers have been in business a lot longer than we have, but one of the primary reasons we won this award is our focus on wanting to exceed our customers’ expectations,” Smernis said. “An example of this is me bringing a cup of coffee out to a customer who pulled up on his bike on a cold, rainy day. We will continue to base our business on this philosophy. That’s something that people value more than ever in this day and age.”