Manpower Group Puts Pedal to the Metal for the UPAF Ride for the Arts Sponsored by Miller Lite

Thousands of bicyclists are celebrating the 35th anniversary of the annual UPAF ride for the arts sponsored by Miller Lite.

Manpower has a team of about 100. It's  convinced this kind of event improves worker morale while giving back to the community.

Manpower CEO Jonas Prising is an avid cyclist and will lead the team.

He says supporting UPAF and the arts locally has far reaching impact.

"It's important from an economic perspective," Prising told CBS 58 News. "It attracts people from a tourism perspective. It generates employment. There is almost 6 thousand jobs in SE Wisconsin. It prepares the workforce for the future. Almost 400,000 youth are involved in UPAF and we know that graduation rates improved and test scores are better and it fosters creativity."

From the 10 mile family route to the 70 mile avid cyclist route along the north shore and back to the Summerfest Grounds, the ride which included the only time you can bicycle across the Hoan bridge, puts the fun in fundraisers.

The United Performing Arts Fund is the umbrella organization that funds 15 different local arts group to make sure they can sustain their  education and community outreach programs.

The idea is simple; to make sure nobody is denied access to the performing arts.

"Arts are important for a lot of different reasons," explained Kyle Dlayby, Special Events Director for UPAF. "They make our community  a great place to live work and play. The arts can educate in many different ways. It can help in children's education and people are always learning."

What we've learned here at cbs 58 as a proud t-v partner that it doesn't take much to get our community in gear.

When a need is identified and an organization like UPAF can provide proven results, everyone seems willing to go along for the ride.