For Immediate Release
Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020
Free masks to be available on board the streetcars, with one streetcar now wearing a mask of its own to help build awareness
Milwaukee – The Hop, presented by Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, today announced a new partnership with MaskUpMKE.org to help promote the importance of wearing a mask as the most accessible and effective way for our Milwaukee community to stop the spread of COVID-19. The coordinated effort is highlighted by a newly wrapped Hop streetcar that is “Masked Up,” featuring both noses of the vehicle adorned in a standard blue medical mask, along with a commitment to provide free masks to streetcar riders who board the vehicles without a mask of their own.
“The Hop streetcars are an incredibly visible asset for the City of Milwaukee and we are proud to donate one of our vehicles to this critical cause,” Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said. “We are appreciative of the hard work the MaskUpMKE team is doing to support this public health initiative and we’re thrilled to be expanding our relationship even further to help make The Hop, and our whole community, even safer.”
The MaskUpMKE branding on The Hop is in line with the organization’s ongoing efforts to promote the use of masks or face coverings throughout the city and across the state as the most effective way for citizens to help stop the spread of COVID-19. In addition to the masks on the two ends of the streetcar, the artwork also features the masked-up faces of Milwaukee citizens, including Milwaukee Municipal Court Judge Derek Mosley, who overcame a battle with COVID-19 earlier this summer (learn more here).
Additionally, the launch of the new MaskUpMKE streetcar coincides with the release of a new PSA, supported by United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County, Creative Health Collective and the broader MaskUpMKE Coalition (visit MaskUpMKE.org for a complete list of members), featuring City of Milwaukee Health Commissioner Dr. Jeanette Kowalik, Judge Derek Mosley and other members of the community. The new PSA can be viewed here.
“Our partnership with The Hop is another way for us to build awareness for this important cause in a visible and meaningful way,” said Loretta Kryshak of Rebel Converting, LLC., and co-founder of the MaskUpMKE movement. “The simple act of wearing a face covering can save lives, prevent the spread of COVID-19, and reduce the length and severity of this pandemic. We’re committed to ensuring our entire community sees this message, heeds this message, and has access to free and effective masks that will help stop the spread.”
The masks donated by MaskUpMKE will be available on all five Hop streetcars beginning today, and are individually packaged and include instructions for proper usage. The availability of masks on board the streetcars will complement the many additional steps being taken to keep The Hop clean and safe, including twice-daily cleanings of the vehicles and stations, social distancing requirements on board, and a recently-applied anti-microbial protective coating over all vehicle and station surfaces to help minimize the potential for the virus to spread. Learn more about how The Hop is working to keep riders safe at www.thehopmke.com/COVID19.
To learn more about MaskUpMKE and how to help support their efforts, visit www.maskupmke.org. For more information on The Hop, visit www.thehopmke.com.
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Contact:
Mark Rosenberg
2-Story/The Hop
612.269.7902 (c)
mark@2-story.com
Heather Perkins
Ignite Change/MaskUpMKE.org
(414).628.4364 (c)
heather@ignitechange.us
Rebel Reform is the Social Outreach Arm of Rebel Converting and a proud member of the Greater Milwaukee area community. The mission is to work with several nonprofits and support various social causes where our support offers the most significant impact.