Bailey Zimmerman partnered with Raising Cane’s to bring holiday cheer to 100 kids at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee. The country superstar made a surprise appearance at the Raising Cane’s restaurant located at 36 White Bridge Pike in Nashville on Wednesday morning (Dec. 17), where he gifted 100 children brand-new bikes and helmets. The recipients were members of Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee, a nonprofit dedicated to creating brighter futures for thousands of young people across the region.
Now celebrating its sixth straight year, Raising Cane’s is spreading holiday cheer on two wheels by partnering with youth organizations and special guests like Zimmerman to surprise kids with brand-new bikes and helmets. Nashville was just one of several stops this holiday season, as Cane’s makes spirits bright by gifting more than 4,000 bikes nationwide to charitable youth organizations. The tradition began when Raising Cane’s owner and founder Todd Graves set out to recreate the joy he felt receiving a bike on Christmas morning. At the event, Zimmerman recalled on receiving his first bike as a child, “Getting My first bike was unbelievable because you’re like, I got a bike. This is crazy. I can go anywhere right now, I’m so free.”
After giving away 2,500 bikes last year, the popular Chicken Finger restaurant chain is shifting into high gear this season, gifting more than 4,000 bikes and helmets to communities nationwide. In addition to Zimmerman, Lacey Chabert, Peter Billingsley, Flavor Flav, Dak Prescott, Chance the Rapper, Tee Higgins, Jayden Daniel’s and more have also participated.
Wearing white pants, a red shirt with white stripes, and a Raising Cane’s–branded Santa hat, the “Rock And A Hard Place” singer has a big smile emblazoned on his face as he addressed the kids.
“Well, I’m very excited to be here. First and foremost. I love Raising Cane’s because of the chicken fingers… I mean, come on. And the sauce,” he said, Todd Graves, CEO and Founder of Raising Cane’s. “So I’ve been a big fan of Raising Cane’s, and I’ve also been a big fan of the founder Todd Graves, just because of how much he helps. He’s a massive role model. And I just wanted to say thank you to Todd, thank you to the Boys and Girls Club, and man, just thank you to everybody for having me out today, and I’m really excited.”
Eric Higgs, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee, was also on hand to thank Raising Cane’s and Zimmerman for their generosity.
“Great futures do start here… On behalf of the entire Boys And Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee. I want to thank Raising Canes, [and] I want to thank all the employees, the staff, Mr. Zimmerman, for once again just hosting us here for this occasion here,” Higgs added. “It is the season of giving. We appreciate that there is plenty of need out there, and we appreciate you helping to meet the need. The bikes are fantastic… So with that, I’ll just say thanks, thanks and thank you again on behalf of the entire organization. Thank you so much.”
The event marked a milestone for Zimmerman, who said it was the first time he had been able to participate so directly in a charitable effort.
“I’ve done a few little things here and there and charity work, but never getting to come out and physically be with people, give bikes away, things like that, and actually get to be there in person. So yeah, this is a big year for me. Pretty special,” Zimmerman told Music Mayhem. “I mean, it’s like what the holiday season about, and that’s testimony to who Todd is. He just cares. That feeling of getting a bike when you were a kid on Christmas is the best feeling in the world. And like he said, every kid deserves to feel that feeling. So it is really cool. And shout out Todd Grave for being a good person.”
He also commented on what it means to him to have an organization like Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee. “Our youth is our future and the kids are our future. And I feel like it’s our job to have things like this and to do things like this. And for the people that donate their time completely and live and breathe this, it takes a lot of strength, and it takes a lot of passion behind it. So it’s very important,” Zimmerman continued. “I’m very thankful for the people that donate the time, give back when it’s hard to give back. It’s really cool, and I’m very blessed to be here.”
This isn’t the first time that Bailey Zimmerman joined forces with Raising Canes. Zimmerman, a devoted Caniac, has partnered with Raising Cane’s multiple times, from working a celebrity “shift” to surprising fans with an in-restaurant performance at the Nashville Flagship. Raising Cane’s also sponsored Zimmerman’s 20+ date international RELIGIOUSLY. THE TOUR. last year, featuring branded tour trucks, VIP rooms stocked with Box Combos and more.
For more than 122 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee has helped young people, especially those who need it most, reach their full potential. Each year, BGCMT serves more than 8,000 youth across 14 clubs in Davidson and Williamson counties, including a digital club, through safe spaces, caring staff, and impactful programs that promote academic success, character, and healthy lifestyles. Learn more at www.bgcmt.org and follow @BGCMidTN.
