National Urban League Partners With Lyft to Provide Access to Transportation for Essential Workers
NEW YORK (April 17, 2020) -- Across the nation, Urban League affiliates are providing essential services to workers and families devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a partnership with the National Urban League, Lyft is helping them get where they need to be by providing ride codes that the National Urban League and its affiliates will be able to distribute to essential workers and families all over the country.
“The Urban League Movement serves as America’s economic first responders, so our staff members and volunteers need to reach the most vulnerable communities,” National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial said. “Lyft is providing a crucial element of our response and we are deeply grateful for their partnership and support.”
The partnership is an expansion of Lyft’s broader LyftUp initiative, its comprehensive effort to expand transportation access to those who need it most. In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Lyft has activated more than 500 partners through LyftUp. This includes efforts in collaboration with public health entities, local governments, nonprofits and community organizations to create new opportunities for drivers, provide ride credits to those in need, and help distribute essential goods during the COVID-19 situation.
“We want to increase access to transportation for those who need it, particularly to meet their essential needs during this time. By activating LyftUp, we’re able to partner with National Urban League to fill mobility needs and help them reach the communities where their help is needed,” said Lisa Boyd, Director of Social Impact, Lyft. “We’re also grateful to all those who drive with Lyft for helping provide rides for those in need. Lyft will be supporting drivers by creating new opportunities to help them earn additional income through the Lyft app and continuously working to protect their safety.”
The National Urban League and its 90 affiliates have responded to the COVID-19 crisis with The Urban League Fights For You, an educational, advocacy and service campaign.
The National Urban League is a historic civil rights organization dedicated to economic empowerment in order to elevate the standard of living in historically underserved urban communities. The National Urban League spearheads the efforts of its 90 local affiliates through the development of programs, public policy research and advocacy, providing direct services that impact and improve the lives of more than 2 million people annually nationwide. Visit www.nul.org and follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @NatUrbanLeague.
Lyft was founded in 2012 by Logan Green and John Zimmer to improve people’s lives with the world’s best transportation and is available to 95 percent of the United States population as well as select cities in Canada. Lyft is committed to effecting positive change for our cities and making cities more livable for everyone through initiatives that bridge transportation gaps, and by promoting transportation equity through shared rides, bikeshare systems, electric scooters, and public transit partnerships.