In July, Lyft made headlines for its potential new feature, “zen mode,” that will let drivers know ahead of time you’d rather stay mum during the drive. And two days before NYC, in an effort to reduce traffic, voted to cap the number of licenses for ride services (Via, Lyft, Uber) during a 12-month period, the company announced a Lyft promotion with a cause.
Lyft is partnering with Ronald McDonald House New York (referred to as “the House”) to help support pediatric cancer patients and their families.
The House is a local nonprofit providing temporary NYC housing for these patients and their loved ones. For every new user who enters a special promo code in the app for a ride in the NYC area, Lyft will make a $10 donation to the House. In return, these new users will get a discount off two rides.
“The monetary donation from each ride using the code will directly benefit the patients and their families as they travel to and from their doctors’ appointments throughout New York City — so every ride counts!” a representative told Metro in a statement.
This Lyft promotion is part of the company’s Relief Rides program dedicated to transporting people in times of need.
For instance, Lyft offered those affected by the 2017 hurricanes Irma and Harvey free rides to shelters and hospitals.
“As part of our Relief Rides program and through our continued support of medical and healthcare organizations, we’re proud to extend our reach with strong local and national partners,” Ann Ferracane, general manager of Lyft New York and New Jersey, said in a news release. “Now, with the help of Ronald McDonald HouseNew York, we are thrilled to help patients and families grow stronger and healthier by reaching these important destinations with ease.”
How this Lyft promotion works
To help make a difference, new Lyft users must enter the promo code NYHERO18 in their app. Lyft will then provide a $10 donation to the House.
According to Ferracane, “This code offers $5 off two rides to new Lyft users throughout New York City. … Anyone in the New York City area who takes their first Lyft ride has the opportunity to give back to the Ronald McDonald House.”
ATTENTION NEW LYFT USERS: Use Ronald McDonald House New York’s new Lyft code, NYHERO18, to receive discounted rides and help support our mission. The House will receive a $10 donation for each new user who enters code NYHERO18 into their app. #KeepingFamiliesClose #Lyft
— RMH New York (@rmhnewyork) August 6, 2018
“This is the beginning of an ongoing relationship with Lyft and The Ronald McDonald House,” Ferracane said in a statement sent to Metro. “Together, our goal is to help patients and their families travel to and from their doctors’ appointments at the top cancer care centers in New York City.”
For more on this Lyft promotion, click through to the company blog.
Similarly, Lyft has an ongoing partnership with the American Cancer Society (ACS) in which cancer patients receive free rides to and from treatments. The arrangement with the ACS started in Las Vegas and Miami, then Lyft extended this service to 10 major cities total this past June.
The free Lyft promotion now includes eight new cities across the nation: Los Angeles, Philly, Houston, Cincinnati, New Jersey, Atlanta, Denver and St. Louis.
“Lack of transportation remains one of the biggest roadblocks to receiving high-quality cancer care,” Celeste Lauer, senior manager of mission delivery at the ACS, said at the time. “Our expanded partnership with Lyft will help us provide more cancer patients with access to potentially life-saving treatments.”
This is part of the Society’s Road To Recovery program, which is devoted to providing those affected by cancer with free transportation. An ACS Northeast region spokesperson told Metro this is especially important for NYC, as patients’ “immune systems are often too weakened to safely ride the subway.”
If you are a cancer patient in New York City and need a free ride to treatment, you can call the ACS at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.
