NEW ORLEANS (press release) – The second Blue Bikes “Ride for Pride” fundraising promotion was a success, with riders pedaling past the goal to raise $10,000 for House of Tulip.
Following the success of the inaugural Ride for Pride, Blue Krewe, the nonprofit operator of Blue Bikes, brought this fundraising promotion back for the second year. For every Blue Bikes ride taken in June, a $1 donation went to House of Tulip, with a commitment to match up to 10,000 rides. New Orleanians rode in support of Pride Month to help this local, nonprofit organization raise the maximum donation.
House of Tulip provides zero-barrier housing, case management, care linkages and community programming to trans and gender nonconforming people who need a safe place to stay. The organization is also working to grow the supply of affordable housing in New Orleans.
“We cannot express how grateful and happy we are that New Orleans overwhelmingly supported the Ride for Pride campaign,” said Mariah Moore, Co-Director of House of Tulip. “Each dollar raised will continue to ensure that our housing site(s) remain operational, keeping our most vulnerable safe and stable.”
The fundraiser was successful thanks to New Orleanians riding to support the LGBTQ+ community, throughout June. Blue Bikes also featured 50 bikes with unique Pride Month basket designs. . Riders shared pictures of the Pride-themed Blue Bikes with the hashtag #RideForPride, which helped raise awareness of the House of Tulip fundraiser.
“As a community-run bikeshare program, our team has been intentional about brainstorming ways that we can celebrate and support LGBTQ+ community members,” said Patrick Urbine, Community Engagement Manager of Blue Krewe, the local nonprofit that manages Blue Bikes. “Ride For Pride was a fantastic opportunity for folks to hop on a Blue Bike and directly support House of Tulip’s mission to provide zero-barrier housing and wrap-around services for trans and gender nonconforming community members. We are so thankful for everyone who hopped on a Blue Bike during Pride and helped reach the 10,000-ride goal.”
Visit www.BlueBikesNOLA.com to see a map of the bikeshare program’s service area and hub locations. Blue Bikes are placed in neighborhoods throughout New Orleans. Follow Blue Bikes on social media @BlueBikesNOLA for updates and information.
