Pedal for Public Schools

Pedal for Public Schools

From Chris Willis

I believe that public schools and public school employees are amazing. I’m riding my bike across America and raising money to donate to the school districts I visit each day.

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Recent Updates

Update #4

over 2 years ago

THANK YOU!! Two days till we start heading west and you all met the 51-51 Challenge! We are over 51 donors and well over $5100! Watch the Pedal for Public Schools page and Instagram accounts for updates. And continue to spread the word about the effort to say thank you to public schools for all they do each day.

More Info

I am a product of public education. Not did I attend public schools for all of my education, through my doctorate degree, my entire professional life has been spent in public education both at the PK-12 level and in higher education. Additionally, I would call public education my families business. From my great-aunts to my siblings, to my nieces and nephews we have nearly 300 years of teaching experience in my family.

When I started to think about doing this ride across the country I first recognized what a privilege it is to have a job, the health, and the financial stability that allows me to take this journey. I have a career that allows me to take two straight months off to go chase this dream of doing this ride. In my thinking about this opportunity and I wanted to find a way to give back as well. The natural place for me was public schools.

During the ride I will be stopping and sleeping in 51 different school districts. These districts range from big city districts to super small rural districts to comfortably situated suburban districts. What they all have in common is they are filled with educators dedicated to helping the children of those communities. My goal is to raise as much money as I can and at the end of the trip write 51 checks as a way for us, the public, to say thank you to those schools and by proxy to all public educators. 

*All proceeds will go to the school districts. I am paying for all of my expenses from my own funds. 

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Chris Willis posted a new update:
over 2 years ago

Update #4

THANK YOU!! Two days till we start heading west and you all met the 51-51 Challenge! We are over 51 donors and well over $5100! Watch the Pedal for Public Schools page and Instagram accounts for updates. And continue to spread the word about the effort to say thank you to public schools for all they do each day.

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Chris Willis posted a new update:
over 2 years ago

Update #3

In just about 2 weeks George and I will hit the road for the west coast and begin our journey. As you know we will be making donations back to 51 different school districts along the bike route. With that number in mind I would like to put forward a 51-51 Challenge. Can you help me get 51 unique donations that will push us over $5100 donated? I need 25 new donors to donate at least a total of $600 before we leave. Thank you to all our donors and as always Like, Share, and Follow.

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Chris Willis posted a new update:
over 2 years ago

Update #2

A HUGE thank you to the early donors! Can we double it?!?!? I will be announcing the campaign to the identified school districts next week and it would be great to have the first 10% of the goal raised when I do. Donate if you can or share with others that might be interested. Both are great ways to help say thank you to public schools.

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Chris Willis posted a new update:
over 2 years ago

Update #1

Today is the opening day for the fundraising campaign. Please consider a donation to help me say thank you to all the public educators across the country.

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