Pridelines' new executive director, Dr. Edward Summers, knows he has his work cut for him. As a major beneficiary of the SMART Ride, Pridelines has depended on money raised to keep its operating budget going.

“Pridelines receives significant money from [SMART Ride]. That gap could debilitate the organization.”

Dr. Summers knew about the ride’s end, which OutSFL first broke on social media, before accepting the job.

“It’s been a chief concern of mine going through the interview process.”

Once known as Pridelines Youth Services, the group is the only LGBTQ community center in Miami. Though its influence has waned recently, Dr. Summers believes it remains an important community resource.

“I'm committed to reminding the community of what Pridelines is and was to the community, and elevating what we do at Pridelines and the services we offer to the community.”

They currently work out of The LGBTQ+ Visitor Center in Miami Beach. A crucial element of SMART Ride money is the organization can use it to fill any need in the budget, such as rent or utilities. Often, grants require the money to be used for a specific purpose.

Funding has been hard to come by for all nonprofits since pandemic restrictions were lifted. The annual infusion of cash that came from the SMART Ride has been crucial to Pridelines’ survival.

The event will cease after next month’s 20th, and final, ride. It’s raised nearly $15M over the years, and have set a goal of $2M for this year. If reached, it will give a little extra breathing room for beneficiaries such as Pridelines.