Ruth Ann Schoer - A Big Thank You to Wheels' Founder

Wheels’ adventure was launched in 1992 by founder and Dane County Board member Ruth Ann Schoer. In spring of 1993 Wheels collected about 400 donated bikes to refurbish and give out. Youth ”earned” their bike by helping to repair the bike of their choice or perform other community service.

Thank you Ruth Ann for your vision to create Wheels for Winners and make it an "Earn-a-Bike" program through community service.  It has stood the test of time. We have refurbished and provided thousands of bikes to “earners,” more than 450 in 2024 alone.

We now also provide free bike repair events in the warmer months that keep bikes safe and rideable, with 548 bikes repaired in 2024.  We have 41 part-time volunteer mechanics which have allowed the shop to be open to the public Monday through Friday for at least 4 hours a day.

In addition, thank you for your Founder’s Donation to our Big Share 2025 fundraiser! We are extremely grateful!

Early Wheels for Winners Brochure Circa 1993

Early Wheels for Winners Brochure Circa 1993

4 Days Left for Our Big Share Fundraiser - Only $3,500 Needed to Reach our Goal

Please donate today at https://www.thebigshare.org/organizations/wheels-for-winners

A good bike is something most of us take for granted! Many of us have owned 3 to 4 bikes by the time we get to be adults. For others, owning a bike is a luxury.

We provide refurbished bikes to a wide range of children, youth and families who perform community service. What do they have in common? Most come from lower income circumstances and a good bike is beyond their reach.

Two special organizations we support with bikes are Open Doors for Refugees and Operation Fresh Start.

We provide bikes to young adults at Operation Fresh Start who need them. OFS graduates earn their high school diploma, driver’s license, certifications in the construction and conservation fields, and gain college/career readiness skills.

Open Doors for Refugees - Bikes help recent refugees get around town, to work, run errands, get to school, get to know their new neighborhoods with their children and get acclimated to their new life here in Dane County.

Recent sponsored refugee from Afghanistan.

Racing Toward the Finish...Our Big Share Fundraiser - 5 days left!

Wheels for Winners, is racing toward the March finish of our Big Share campaign, with $3,600 in donations needed to reach our fundraising goal. Your donation will be doubled by match funding from Wheels' volunteers!

We are 100% volunteer so all of your donation goes to our mission and programs!

Help us cross the finish line a winner by donating at the Big Share website below…

https://www.thebigshare.org/organizations/wheels-for-winners

Your contribution to Wheels for Winners will keep us on track to deliver quality cycling programs people have relied upon for 32 years. 

* We enable people to own bikes based on their service to the community,
* Our repair events keep bikes safe and rolling,
* Our refurbished bikes and free repairs keep bikes out of landfills.

We are so very grateful for the support from our individual donors like you, from the many communities that we serve, and all our funders who help us keep the lights on.

We couldn't do this without you. Our bike earners, repair recipients and we thank you!
-       The Wheels for Winners team

PS - Your donation, of any amount, will help us reach our goal!