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Dan Austin, Founder of 88Bikes

Dan Austin wants to make the world a better place for kids, one bicycle at a time. Austin, a filmaker, author and co-founder of 88bikes Foundation, will visit Peddie on Wednesday, April 18 as part of the Christensen Speaker Series to talk about his charity work. This event was originally scheduled for October 25.

The evening presentation will begin at 8:30 p.m. in Annenberg Library, Annenberg Hall and is free and open to the public.

An avid cyclist and traveler, Austin wanted to bring the joy of riding to children around the globe. In 2006, Dan and his brother Jared spent two weeks in Cambodia working at a children’s hospital. During that trip, they took a bike ride through the countryside. Then, after they rode, they planned to donate their bikes to the local orphanage. They thought this act of kindness would make a great ending to their Cambodian trip. But they soon realized two bikes were not enough for 88 children.

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That’s when they decided that the right thing to do would be to get all the kids bikes, one way or another. They raised the 88 dollars needed per bike in just two weeks. Since then, the non-profit organization has grown quickly and is looking to branch out even further.

“The joy of children takes on a life all its own,” Austin said.
The 88bikes foundation focuses on “micro-philanthropy” in the form of donating bicycles to underprivileged children worldwide.

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The lecture series, supported by Henry "Terry" Christensen III '62, brings renowned speakers to campus from a variety of fields including history and politics to science, culture, media and sports. Past speakers include Nobel Peace Prize recipient and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger; Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Paul Muldoon; Congressional Medal of Honor recipient and retired U.S. Army Colonel Jack Jacobs, and advisor to President Kennedy Ted Sorenson.

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