Mad Dogs & Englishmen owners Jennifer Blevins and Martin Watson, at right and left, with Specialized Bicycle Components founder Mike Sinyard this week. Courtesy image.
Jennifer Blevins and Martin Watson, owners of the popular Mad Dogs & Englishmen bike shop that has been at the Mill Valley Lumber Yard since 2019 and also in Carmel and Montecito, are determined to turn a bizarre, only-on-the-Internet moment of bot-driven backlash into genuine generosity.
Mad Dogs & Englishmen is hosting a simultaneous bike assembly session and giveaway of 75 bicycles to local Boys and Girls Club chapters at their locations in Carmel-by-the-Sea and Montecito, as well as for Marin’s Trips for Kids on Saturday, June 17, and Sunday, June 18.
Bikes will be assembled by volunteers from 12-5 p.m. Saturday, June 17, at the three locations (25 bikes for each location) and representatives from the two chapters of the Boys and Girls Club (Boys and Girls Clubs of Monterey County and Santa Barbara County) and Trips for Kids will accept the assembled bikes at each of the bike shops (addresses below).
The Montecito Bike Giveaway will be Monday, June 19 at 10:30 a.m. The Mill Valley Bike Giveaway at the Lumber Yard will be Monday, June 19 at 1:30 p.m. And the Carmel-by-Sea Bike Giveaway will be Tuesday, June 20th at 10:30 a.m.
Blevins and Watson started a GoFundMe page to raise funds for the bikes for kids in need in response to some criticism that the Montecito shop got for gifting a bike to little Archie, son of Megan and Harry, who turned 4 last month.
“In response to some criticism we received for gifting a bike to a child of means, we decided to launch a bike giveaway to give a child’s bike to a child in need, and this has prompted many of our supporters to reach out to us to ask how they can donate to support this cause, and also how they can support our small business,” writes Blevins on the GoFundMe page, #lovewins bikes for kids. “This got me thinking. Why stop with one bike? Let’s give as many bikes as we can to as many kids as we can, in honor of the birthday boy! Let’s maximize this unique opportunity to share the love and do more good in the world.”
Blevins said the initial goal of $1,000 was quickly reached, so she upped the goal. With nearly $10,000 raised to date, the goal is now $20,000.
“We have been blown away by the outpouring of kindness and generosity, and this positive momentum has been really inspiring!” writes Blevins about the donations pouring in. “100 percent of all donations will be used to purchase new bikes for underprivileged children. Hoping we can take all of this attention and momentum and channel it into doing something impactful and good!”
Blevins added that she will not be increasing the goal again, but any additional donations raised will go toward buying additional bikes, with the goal to donate at least 100 Specialized bikes in total.
“All bikes are being purchased with the funds raised by our supporters at our WHOLESALE pricing, as well as a donation from us. The bikes are an in-kind donation valued at $22,500 and are the same model gifted to little Archie for his birthday. Supporters of the shop and this charitable mission to do something good for underprivileged kids have donated $9182 to date,” she writes.
To donate to the cause, go to the GoFundMe page, #lovewins bikes for kids, at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/lovewins-bikes-for-kids?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet&utm_location=DASHBOARD&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer
For more info on the digitally-driven craziness that preceded it all, GO HERE and HERE.
The 411: Mad Dogs & Englishmen is in the Mill Valley Lumber Yard, 129 Miller Avenue, Suite 802. MORE INFO.