From Your Dollar to a Kid on a Bike
We don't do hand-me-downs. We don't do random giveaways. We surprise entire schools with brand-new bikes — and every single child gets one.
The Kids Who Need It Most
Going Places focuses exclusively on Title 1 elementary schools — schools where 40% or more of students live at or below the federal poverty line. But Katie doesn't stop at the minimum. The schools Going Places chooses typically have 80% or more of their students living at or below the poverty line.
These are kids aged 4 to 10 who may have never owned anything of real value. For many of them, a Going Places bike is the first item they can truly call their own. And it's not a cheap bike — it's a high-quality, custom-built ride that lasts for years and is often passed down to younger siblings.
From Your Dollar to a Kid on a Bike
Here's exactly how Going Places turns your generosity into a child's first bike — step by step, dollar by dollar.
The Board Sets the Goal
Each year, our board meets and decides how many bikes we want to give — and that means how many schools. We only do grand reveals where every single child gets a brand-new bike. For 2026, the goal is 2,500 bikes across multiple Title 1 schools in the Charleston Lowcountry.
Two Major Fundraisers
Our board and team set about raising the funds through two flagship events each year: our spring Gala (this year at The Cedar Room on May 15, with live music by Ben Coleman) and our annual Bike Build in December. Combined with year-round donations from individuals and sponsors, we raise enough money to buy every bike.
We Build the Bikes
We work with a local Charleston bike shop to buy brand-new, high-quality bikes at near cost — supporting a local business while stretching every dollar. In December, hundreds of community volunteers come together at our Bike Build to assemble every single bike by hand. No experience needed — just show up ready to build.
The Grand Reveal
In December, we show up at each school and surprise every single child with their brand-new bike, helmet, and lock. The kids have no idea it's coming. Teachers keep the secret. Then one day, the whole school is called outside — and hundreds of brand-new bikes are lined up, one for every child. The screams, the tears, the pure, unfiltered joy — it's the same every time.
Not Just Any Bike
We don't hand out cheap bikes that break in a month. Every child receives a complete, quality ride that lasts.
Each child receives a brand-new, high-quality custom bike built to last — not a bargain bin bike that falls apart after a few rides. These bikes are built with real components, designed for kids aged 4–10, and hold up for years.
The complete ride also includes a helmet and a lock — because a bike without a helmet isn't safe, and a bike without a lock doesn't stay yours for long.
- $7 — A bike pump to keep tires filled
- $10 — A combination lock to keep it safe
- $25 — A properly fitted helmet
- $133 — A brand-new, high-quality bicycle
- $175 total — One child's complete ride
These bikes are often the most valuable thing a child has ever owned. They're passed down to younger siblings, ridden every single day, and treated like treasure — because that's what they are.
Give a Bike — $175
The Best Day of Their Lives
Every bike reveal is the same — and every single one is unforgettable.
The kids don't know it's happening. Teachers keep the secret. Then one day, the whole school is called outside — and hundreds of brand-new bikes are lined up in the schoolyard, one for every child.
The screams, the tears, the hugging, the jumping — it's the same every time. Kids who have never owned anything of value suddenly have a shiny new bike with their name on it. Parents cry. Teachers cry. Volunteers cry. Everyone cries.
This is why Going Places exists. Not just to give bikes — but to give children the message that their community sees them, believes in them, and wants them to go places in life.
Now You Know How It Works. Ready to Help?
Every dollar you give goes directly to putting a brand-new bike in the hands of a child who has never had one.