On September 24th, International Institute of New England Board members, volunteers, staff, friends, and local community members suited up and hopped on their bikes to participate in IINE’s 5th annual Ride for Refugees and Immigrants.
Created by IINE Board member Will Krause, The Ride brings together both seasoned cyclists and casual riders to bike a 50- or 12-mile route to raise funds and awareness for refugees and immigrants in our communities.
Riders departed from Arlington, MA, stopping in Lowell to take a tour of our new office space and learn more about IINE’s work before meeting up with additional riders on the route back to Arlington. A big thank you to the 21 riders who participated and made the day such a success!
Highlights of the Ride
Supporters and Staff Raise Critical Funds to Help Refugees and Immigrants in Our Communities
IINE supporters, friends, and staff members collectively raised nearly $32,000 to provide resettlement services, intensive case management, adult ESOL, career advancement, youth programming, and immigration legal services to refugees and immigrants in need. Several shared the reasons they were inspired to ride:
Riders Enjoy a Delicious Post-Ride Celebration at Kickstand Café
A special thank you to owner Emily Shea and her staff at the Kickstand Café in Arlington, who, for the third year in a row, graciously hosted a post-ride reception. Riders and supporters enjoyed delicious food and drinks as they reflected on the event’s impact (and tried to stay dry in the drizzly fall weather!).
A Valued and Generous IINE Partner, Starbucks Sponsors the Ride
Special thanks to the Starbucks Corporation for their generosity as our very first corporate sponsor of the annual Ride. The company’s ongoing partnership with our organization – from offering employment opportunities to our clients, to providing grant awards and event sponsorship, to volunteering at our World Refugee Day celebration – exemplifies how the mobilization of our corporate community can make life-changing impact on refugees and immigrants seeking a new start in New England.
Thank you again to everyone who supported The Ride! By donating to IINE, you make a direct difference in the lives of refugees and immigrants in our communities.
