Bublr Bikes, Greater Milwaukee's local nonprofit bike-share program, held its first annual fundraising event Thursday, June 7 at La Lune Collection in Riverwest. The event provided the opportunity to recognize Bublr's launch partners as well as celebrate its fourth anniversary serving communities in the Greater Milwaukee area.
Throughout the night, fundraising goals were announced and met. The Astor Street Foundation and Mandel Group agreed to jointly continue their support of Bublr Bikeshare during the current annual fundraising campaign and a total of $50,000 was pledged by these community partners to seed the 2018-19 annual fundraising effort. Enough independent contributions were also gathered in support of a highly anticipated station in the Riverwest neighborhood.
Event co-chairs include Linda Gorens-Levey (General Capital Group), Bob Monnat (Mandel Group, Inc.), and Curt Culver (MGIC).
The evening featured offerings from Lakefront Brewery and Antigua with entertainment by Milwaukee Hot Club. Both the Astor Street Foundation and the Mandel Group, Inc. were recognized with "Pedal Forward" awards for contributing significant financial support during Bublr's initial launch in 2014. Sarah Zimmerman with Astor Street Foundation indicated that "Bublr Bikes is emblematic of an exciting new Milwaukee.
Bublr and its supporters in government and the business and philanthropic communities have prioritized access and equity in the design of this innovative bike-share system. Astor Street Foundation is proud to be among Bublr's many local partners."
Mandel Group's early support for the Bublr Bikeshare system was a natural extension of the firm's reinvestment in urban Milwaukee. "We realized early on that bike-share was a marker of sorts, distinguishing those cities that were attuned to attracting a large share of the millennial generation," commented Robert B. Monnat, partner and chief operating officer of Mandel Group. "Our residents place a high value on the system, and express their appreciation for the contributions to date that have permitted the system to grow and stations to multiply."
Corporate support continues to grow. "Bike sharing helps build strong, sustainable communities," says Gorens-Levey. "As our local nonprofit bike sharing program, Bublr promotes mobility, wellness, economic development and increased quality of like, all of which intersect with my other community and civic involvement. Serving as a Co-Chair has also allowed me to demonstrate my support for the fabulous staff and board leadership of the organization, as well as the event hosts, Mario and Cathy Costantini who do so much to enrich our city."
As owners of La Lune Collection, the Costantinis hosted the event. "We're thrilled to host the inaugural 'Bublr Bash' at La Lune Collection, right here in Riverwest. Bublr Bikes is an initiative that we both truly believe in -- it not only provides valuable, healthy, and sustainable transportation, but also promotes the residential and commercial development of our Milwaukee neighborhoods."
"And, it is our sincere hope for a Bublr Bikes station in Riverwest very soon."
