About Us

The 88bikes Foundation has a very simple goal:
to provide a sustainable, joyful, empowering form of transportation to young people in developing countries, in situations where these children have been challenged to be their own heroes due to war, conflict, poverty, disease, or other regional hardships.

Founders

Dan Austin (Dan (at) 88bikes.org) is a writer and filmmaker living in Seattle, WA. Dan is best known for his 1999 documentary, True Fans, and for the book True Fans that chronicled his bike journey across America with his brother, Jared and his best friend Clint. A musical version of True Fans is currently in development in New York. A popular speaker on college campuses, Dan is the award-winning director of seven documentaries and author of three books (including the recent “The Road Trip Pilgrims Guide”); conversant in four languages, Dan has explored old paths and new throughout the world. His ‘universal joy principle’ was the inspiration for 88bikes, and provides the thematic thread for his forthcoming 88bikes documentary. Dan is the inspiration, voice and leader of 88bikes, directing the project and working closely with our partners and bike sponsors to make 88bikes a huge success.

Nick Arauz is a designer and social media entrepreneur with a broad range of accomplishments. He grew up on a heavy dose of creativity and technology, alternating summers between art schools, construction jobs, robotics camps and technology jobs. His career accomplishments include creating high-end retail experiences, developing technology and youth brands, developing technology for mobile networks, and working on social action programs. Nick is the co-founder of Xipto, a mobile advertising company, and also consults on strategy and marketing for well-known brands through Agency by Others. Nick brought 88bikes to life online, and has been responsible for the social fund raising and micro-philanthropy strategy that has been an integral part of 88bike’s success. He lives in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, with his twin boys.

Dr. Jared Austin is a pediatric hospitalist and assistant professor at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Oregon. He completed medical school at the University of Utah, and a pediatric residency and chief residency at the University of Minnesota, where he also graduated from the pediatric global health track. He spent two years at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where he fulfilled dual roles as a pediatric hospitalist at Mayo Eugenia Litta Children's Hospital, and a clinician in the Pediatric Diagnostic and Referral Clinic. His academic interests include hospital medicine, medical education and global health. Jared plays a critical role in leading 88bikes ground operations for each project, working with the local leaders for logistics and accounting. He has also been the connector and the expert on local history and culture for all 88bikes destinations.

Director of Social Enterprise

Pauline Nee visited our first Endowment in August, 2009 at the Palm Tree Orphanage in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where she repaired bikes and trained the kids to set up an “88bikeshop”. Pauline lives in New York, where she is an art consultant by day and a passionate believer in the power of social enterprise. Pauline is a Starting Bloc Fellow (NY ‘10), which educates young leaders to drive social change, and she is on the Young Leaders board of the Urban Land Institute, which promotes responsible and sustainable land use. Pauline coordinates all of 88bikes’ communication efforts and our social enterprise programs, including our 88bikeshop projects.