Freenow by Lyft and Irish Guide Dogs launch partnership

Freenow by Lyft and Irish Guide Dogs launch partnership ahead of International Guide Dog Day

• Freenow passengers can round up their fare via the app to donate to Irish Guide Dogs 

• Funds collected will support the training of a litter of puppies on their journey to becoming guide dogs or assistance dogs

• Freenow is committed to working with Irish Guide Dogs to improve accessibility for passengers with working dogs

Freenow by Lyft, Ireland’s No. 1 Taxi app, has today (29.04.26) announced a partnership with the Irish Guide Dogs to raise funds through its Round Up to Donate in-app feature. The launch marks International Guide Dog Day, which is held each year on the last Wednesday in April. 

Freenow passengers can round up the cost of their trip to the nearest euro and donate the difference to support the work of the Irish Guide Dogs. The Round Up to Donate feature will support the charity for one year, and passengers can already contribute.

As well as fundraising, Freenow is also putting an emphasis on driver awareness and education. As part of this partnership, they will work with the Irish Guide Dogs to facilitate training for taxi drivers on how to provide the best possible service to guide and assistance dog users. Earlier this month, training was held in Dublin where one hundred drivers had the opportunity to learn more about best practices to ensure a comfortable journey for working dogs and their users.

Danny O’Gorman, General Manager at Freenow by Lyft Ireland, said: “We are proud to launch our fundraising partnership with Irish Guide Dogs to mark International Guide Dog Day. Taxis are an essential part of Ireland's public transport infrastructure, and it’s crucial that they are accessible to everyone. 

At Freenow, we are committed to supporting an accessible taxi fleet, something we have championed through our previous work with  Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) and our continued support for increased WAV Grant funding. We look forward to working on a number of joint initiatives with the Irish Guide Dogs to raise awareness among drivers and make everyday taxi journeys more inclusive for guide and assistance dog users across the country.”

CEO of Irish Guide Dogs, Tim O'Mahony, said: “On International Guide Dog Day, and as we celebrate 50 years of Irish Guide Dogs, we are proud to partner with Freenow to support greater awareness and inclusion for people who rely on guide and assistance dogs. Access rights are a fundamental legal right, and partnerships like this play an important role in ensuring those rights are understood and respected across everyday services like transport. The funds raised by Freenow passengers will help us continue training life-changing dogs and delivering our services free of charge to those who need them most.”

The partnership builds on Freenow’s previous work in the accessibility space. From December 2024 and up to April 2026, the company partnered with the Irish Wheelchair Association providing financial support for its national bus network. During this period, Freenow worked closely with IWA to provide in-person training and create content for taxi drivers, ensuring they can support wheelchair users the best way possible when traveling by taxi.

Freenow Passengers can select the option to donate when booking their trip, before their next trip or while travelling to their destination by selecting the Round Up and Donate option in the Freenow app.

ENDS