*Sunday, June 1, the United Performing Arts Fund will hold its annual Ride for the Arts, a bike ride through Milwaukee that raises funds for the organization’s 15 member groups and many affiliate groups. The ride, in its 34th year, has collected more than $8 million for regional performing arts organizations and drawn thousands of participants since its start. The morning ride is open to cyclists of all ages and abilities and includes five-, 12-, 25-, 40- and 66-mile biking options. Starting times among routes vary. Rides will start and finish at Summerfest grounds with a finish line party following. Rider fees are $45 for adults, $35 for youth, and $125 for families (two adults and two children or one adult and three children). Fees increase for day-of registration. For more information on the UPAF Ride for the Arts, visit www.UPAFRIDE.org.
*Tuesday, June 3, LISC Milwaukee will hold a launch event for its Associates in Commercial Real Estate program. The 28-week ACRE program is designed to educate minority students about property management, construction management and commercial real estate and draw more minority professionals to these fields. The launch event will include remarks from program leaders and industry executives as well as networking among ACRE alumni, prospective students, instructors and program partners. The event, which will also include drinks and appetizers, is open to anyone interested in learning more about ACRE. The launch will run from 4 to 7 p.m. at 88Nine RadioMilwaukee, located at 220 E. Pittsburgh Ave. in Milwaukee. Attendees can RSVP by emailing Marjorie Rucker, LISC Milwaukee program officer, at mrucker@lisc.org. For more information on the ACRE program, click here.
*Thursday, June 5, IndependenceFirst will host its 13th annual “A Night for Independence” fundraiser gala. The event will benefit the organization’s programs and resources related to education, independent living services, coalition building and advocacy for people with disabilities. The gala will feature a silent auction, dinner and keynote address by Christin Ha. Ha, who is blind, won “MasterChef” season three. The evening will also celebrate IndependenceFirst’s 35th anniversary. The gala will run from 5 to 9 p.m. at Potawatomi Bingo Casino, located at 1721 W. Canal St. in Milwaukee. Individual tickets cost $100. For more information or to register, click here.
*Friday, June 6, Schlitz Audubon Nature Center will hold its 2014 Gala: The Four Seasons. The event will feature cocktails, dinner and an auction. The event will start at 6 p.m. and will be held at the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, located at 1111 E. Brown Deer Rd., Bayside. Attendees are invited to arrive early at 5:30 p.m. to take part in a guided hike on one of the center’s many trails. Cost to attend is $200 per person. Casual attire is acceptable. All proceeds will benefit SANC’s environmental educational programs, including student scholarships. For more information, click here or contact Debby Fulton at 414-352-2880 ext. 152 or dfulton@sanc.org.
*Saturday, June 14, SHARP Literacy Inc. and Summerfest Foundation Inc. will hold the first annual “Kids Run to Read” fun run at Henry Maier Festival Park. The one-mile race is open to children ages 6-12 and will benefit SHARP’s foundational literacy program and the initiatives of the Milwaukee World Festival, Inc., which organizes Summerfest in addition to other festivals. The fun run will coincide with the fourth annual Summerfest Rock ‘n Sole Run. The fun run will be limited to 250 youth participants, who will each take home a race T-shirt, race prize bag and finishing medal. Cost is $12 in advance or $17 on race day, if the race has not met capacity, and waivers will be required for each participant. The race will start at 10 a.m. The Henry Maier Festival Park is located at 200 N. Harbor Dr. in Milwaukee. For more information on the fun run or to register, visit the “Kids Run to Read” page of www.rocknsolerun.com.
