Local Wine Tasting Festival Supports Community Transportation

Portland, OR. Ride Connection leaders were all smiles as they held the check for $6,500 from the Portland Picnic Wine Tasting Festival. Over 5,000 people attended the festival in July and enjoyed wine tasting, local food vendors, live music and family-friendly activities. Ride Connection provides free transportation options to older adults and people with disabilities in the Portland metro area. Ride Connection Board Chair, Park Woodworth, Ride Connection CEO, Julie Wilcke Pilmer posed for a photo with the Portland Picnic organizers, Emily and Travis Motter.

Ride Connection’s Chief Executive Officer, Julie Wilcke Pilmer explained, “Being the benefiting nonprofit of the Portland Picnic has helped the organization share our mission to a wider audience. Transportation is the connection to the resources and services an individual needs to remain independent and healthy. With the support of the Portland Picnic, we were able to share the importance of our mission at the event on July 13th, and the funds raised will help us continue to provide transportation to those in need in our region.”

Ride Connection offers transportation to people with disabilities throughout Washington, Clackamas, and Multnomah counties. Just within the last year, Ride Connection has provided nearly 500,000 rides and supported over 2,000 individuals with access to public transportation within the last year. Leaders prioritize creating a culture that includes values such as appreciating customers and staff, maintaining collaborative relationships with Service Partners, delivering safe, personalized transportation options, and assure honest, reliable and accountable business relationships and practices.

Last year, Ride Connection celebrated 30 years servicing the Portland Metro area. Here’s a video about the program:

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Today and every day, Ride Connection provides transportation options to individuals in need. From older adults to people with disabilities to low-income individuals and underserved communities, we are able to provide essential transportation services thanks to the work and support of our staff, volunteers, partners donors, and advocates. Our services bring together friends and family, prevent social isolation, alleviate financial stress and create new connections that strengthen our community. Ride Connection remains committed to providing inclusive transportation options for all individuals in need in the tri-county area.