Chance the Rapper brought holiday cheer and two wheels of freedom to a crowd of Chicago children on Monday (December 16) by giving away 100 bicycles during a festive event at Raising Cane’s in Chicago Ridge.
The Grammy winner teamed up with his nonprofit SocialWorks and the fast-food chain to distribute custom bikes and helmets to local kids, who also received meals and enjoyed live caroling as they tested their new rides in the parking lot. The giveaway was part of a larger effort by Raising Cane’s, which donated 200 bikes in total—doubling last year’s contribution. Half were given out on Monday, while the other 100 had already been distributed at a warming center near a Green Line CTA station two days earlier.
Chance, a proud Chicago native, emphasized the importance of bikes as a symbol of independence for young people. Founded in 2016, SocialWorks focuses on empowering Chicago youth through education, the arts and civic engagement. The organization has funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars into local schools and community programs over the years.