Around 4,000 cyclists rode through Milwaukee on Sunday during the United Performing Arts Fund’s annual Ride for the Arts, the organization’s signature fundraising event.
Riders traversed the Hoan Bridge and took in views of Lake Michigan along Lincoln Memorial Drive on 10-, 25-, 45- and 70-mile bike routes to raise money for UPAF’s member groups, such as First Stage, the Florentine Opera Company and Skylight Music Theatre.
The group’s target fundraising goal for the event was $600,000. UPAF spokesperson David Fantle said all the pledges from Sunday’s ride haven’t been counted, but he expects the organization will meet its goal.
The Ride for the Arts is part of UPAF’s 2016 fundraising campaign, which was launched in March with a goal of raising $12.26 million for local performing arts nonprofits. The group’s 2015 campaign raised $12 million.
Racine-based Johnson Bank, which sponsored the ride, will match pledges raised by Ride for the Arts participants up to $25,000.
UPAF has held the ride each year since 1981. Manpower CEO Jonas Prising set the pace for this year’s event.
