Help Raise $100,000 in honor of Gearin’ Up Bikes.

Youth. Community. Empowerment. Since 2012, Gearin’ Up Bikes has been on a mission to create bicycle-mechanic training for youth from under-served communities in Washington, DC, simultaneously offering career development opportunities and providing access to quality, affordable, used bicycles for those in need. To all of you in the wider bicycling community who have lent their time, energy, and support to Gearin’ Up over the last decade: thank you. 

Earlier this year, WABA was proud to announce that we’re absorbing this beloved organization into our programs. From the beginning, Gearin’ Up has been training the next generation of bike-lovers, building a welcoming bicycling community, and making bicycling accessible to more people. In 2024, WABA is aiming to reopen the community bike shop, host repair clinics, and restart the earn-a-bike program, giving youth the chance to build and take home their own bicycles. This is a bold undertaking, and we can’t wait to get started… but we can’t do it without your help. 

December 18, 2023 ONLY, a supporter is matching your gifts to WABA x Gearin’ Up Bikes up to $50,000, so we can get Gearin’ Up off the ground again in 2024. Gearin’ Up Bikes has been community-focused from its inception, and your support now means everything to this program. Please visit waba.org/give today to help us meet this bold fundraising goal!

This month, WABA signed a lease on Bikestation at Union Station. This bike shop facility, housed in an award-winning building smack in the middle of the city, is going to be the launch point for Gearin’ Up Bikes. Even more exciting: we’ve hired a program director, Shaina Kohli, who will bring their years of community bike shop experience to WABA starting in January. We’ve got a space, we’ve got staff, and we’ve got a vision: access to affordable bikes and bike repair, and a robust training program producing a workforce of  bicycle mechanics who are connected to the communities they serve. We’re geared up for 2024—and we need our community riding behind us! We’re calling on all our supporters to make a gift to WABA before midnight to see that support double with our limited time match!

Here’s to bold new adventures in 2024 and beyond!