The Challenge
Wall Street Rides FAR (For Autism Research) launched as a charity cycling and walking event rooted in a powerful mission – but it initially lacked the industry visibility to scale. Despite strong ideals and deep Wall Street connections, the Ride struggled to generate participation and fundraising momentum in its early years. Forefront stepped in on a pro bono basis to help amplify its reach and impact.
The Strategy
We leveraged two core assets: the Ride’s mission-driven purpose and its existing network of industry participants. Our approach was to humanize the event, spotlighting the individuals and firms who took part. We also encouraged those riders to become advocates, amplifying the Ride’s message through their personal channels. Meanwhile, we targeted niche financial and trade media outlets to increase visibility with the right audience.
The Execution
Over time, we built a sustained content and PR campaign around the “Rider of the Week” series, spotlighting participants and their firms in ghostwritten stories shared across LinkedIn and industry media. Our outreach created high-visibility moments – like ringing the NYSE opening and closing bell – and landed placements in Bloomberg, Business Insider and Traders Magazine. We also coordinated speaking appearances and media exposure for the Autism Science Foundation (ASF), the Ride’s charitable beneficiary, positioning the event as a unifier across rival firms for a meaningful cause.
The Impact
Thanks in part to our efforts, the Ride’s fundraising and visibility exploded: in just a few short years, donations quadrupled, surpassing $1 million annually. The event has become a staple on Wall Street’s philanthropic calendar. Forefront’s pro bono work helped shift some of Wall Street’s competitive energy toward shared commitment and community impact.
