Last Thursday night, LACBC hosted our 3rd Annual Firefly Ball at The Reserve in Downtown Los Angeles. Not only does our fundraiser honor leaders in the bicycling community, but it also helps launch us into the new Operation Firefly season and is a party full of good drink, good food, good conversation, and good times.
We rounded up some of our favorite photos from the night, and they are posted below.
The night featuring a lot of great conversations and a silent auction with both goods and services from local businesses, as well as fun memorabilia.
Los Angeles Walks Executive Director Deborah Murphy rides a bike. Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition Executive Director Tamika Butler walks.
Folks from our local chapters came out. Walk Bike Burbank brought a lively crew.
Many thanks to all of the Firefly Ball sponsors, including the night’s Frame Sponsor: Joshua Cohen, Los Angeles Bicycle Attorney. Here LACBC Executive Director Tamika Butler and Joshua (both in the center, back) appropriately pose with friends, family, and colleagues in front of the LACBC / Los Angeles Bicycle Attorney step-and-repeat.
This year’s event was held at The Reserve, which is located in the basement of the building just south of LACBC HQ. The basement used to house a bank vault, which is why you have to travel through vaults to get from room to room. The space now has bars and lounges and lots of fun details.
Check out that vault in the back.
The night’s program started by honoring the Walt Disney Company with the Passionate Pedal Award for striving to make Disney greener and promoting sustainable means of transportation through the Walt Disney Company Commuter Assistance Program. The program now has nearly 19,000 participants across 19 different states and offers incentives/subsidies for biking, walking, riding transit, and vanpool to work.
The Ovarian Psycos declined the advocacy award that they were presented with and used their moment on stage to draw attention to the harmful effects that gentrification has in their Eastside communities, particularly in Boyle Heights. In addition to planning and leading rides for womxn and gender-nonconforming folks, the Ovarian Psycos aim to heal communities physically, emotionally, and spiritually by addressing pertinent issues (such as gentrification).
Meghan Sahli-Wells, a Culver City Council Member, former Mayor, and co-founder of the Culver City Bicycle Coalition (now Bike Culver City) accepted the Innovator Award. Meghan has dedicated her life to to her community and has led efforts to address climate change, active transportation, affordable housing, homeless services, and government transparency, among other things.
LACBC Board President helped close out the program by thanking the night’s sponsors and supporters.
A shorter program and cocktail party allowed for more mingling.
If you know the LACBC staff, then you know how hard it is to get a group shot when we are working LACBC events. Well, we finally did it on Thursday. We are (from left to right): Colin, Hyeran, Carol, Ishraq, Bryan, Tamika, Zachary, Bryony (our awesome intern), Lac, and wolf guy.
Thank so much to this year’s Firefly Ball Committee that helped plan this fun event. The committee is (from left to right): Elizabeth, Carrie, Eric, Shanon (Committee Chair), Daniella, Jim, and Michelle.
The atmosphere was quite jolly.
Check out more photos from Kyle Espeleta Photography on the LACBC Facebook page: photos from the red carpet and photos from the rest of the event.
Thank you to the Firefly Ball sponsors that helped make this event possible:
Frame Sponsor: Joshua Cohen, Los Angeles Bicycle Attorney
Gear Sponsor: The Wonderful Company
Cranks Sponsor: Walt Disney Company
Hub Sponsors: Carrie Ungerman & Arthur Pinchev, Helms Bakery, Herbie Huff & Shannon Docherty, Kelly Perigoe & Tamika Butler, Shanon Muir, Pocrass & De Los Reyes, Southern California Association of Governments, The Culver Studios, and Tish & Greg Laemmle
Thank you to the Firefly Ball in-kind sponsors for providing auction items and giveaways: Angel City Brewery, Carrie Ungerman & Arthur Pinchev, Chris Paine, Common People Crafts, Dani Bike Jewelry, ESI Grips, Flask Fine Wines, Frais Spa, Greg & Tish Laemmle, J9s & K9s, Justin’s, Kim Riegel Trainer, Knead Balance Massage, Laemmle Theatres, Lourdes Lopez Morales, Mast Chocolate, Moxie Cycling Co., Peking Tavern, Planet Bike, Tannus Tires, Tern Bicycles, The Orpheum, and The Spirit Guild
Thank you to the members of the Firefly Ball Committee, who put in countless hours of planning: Shanon Muir, Chair, Daniella Alcedo, Eric Bruins, Jim Pocrass, Elizabeth Ann John, Michelle Weiner, and Tamika Butler
Thank you also to all of our volunteers that helped out before, during, and after the event!
Thank you to our honorees and attendees that work to make L.A. County a better place to bike!
Whether you made it out to the Firefly Ball or not, you can continue to support LACBC’s work by:
becoming an LACBC member (or renewing your membership),
signing up to volunteer for Operation Firefly, our education and bike light distribution program.