Community Rides

The Community Rides program offers free Centennial Ferris Wheel tickets and transportation stipends to local schools and nonprofit organizations.

Annually, the Community Rides program provides 10,000 complimentary tickets to more than 100 community organizations and schools to visit Navy Pier and ride the Centennial Wheel at no cost. Transportation stipend requests are included in the application and are awarded based on need and available funds.

Generously supported by Cboe, Community Rides exemplifies Navy Pier’s unwavering commitment to welcoming all through dynamic experiences.

How To Apply

Eligible local nonprofit organizations (501c3) and schools can apply online.
The deadline to apply for the 2025 Spring cycle is Friday April 4, 2025. Recipient organizations will be notified by the end of April.
Looking for a ticket donation to support your organization’s fundraising efforts? (Raffle prize, auction prize, etc.) Apply for up to (4) Centennial Wheel tickets HERE.

Spring 2025 Application

Community Rides Submission Form - Spring 2025

Organization Information

Organization Name

Organization Type

501c3

Public School

Other

Mailing Address

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code

Application Contact Information

Name

Phone Number

Mission

Area of Focus

Education

Research

Health

Human Services

Seniors

Arts

Culture

Humanities

Environment

Animals

Other

If other, please clarify

Geographic Area Served (City/County/Neighborhood)

Description and demographic of client population served

Short Answer

How many tickets are you requesting? (up to 100)

Have you received tickets in the past?

Yes

How will this partnership further support your mission and support the individuals of your organization?

Who will receive the Centennial Wheel tickets?

Do you plan on using the tickets as a group trip or distributing the tickets to individuals to use on their own?

Would you like to apply for a $500 transportation grant(stipend)?

Yes

If yes, please describe your anticipated travel plan (school bus, CTA passes, charter bus rental, etc.).

In the event your organization is selected, how will you promote the partnership?

Do you have a current relationship with Navy Pier? If so, please describe.

Do you agree to participate in a scheduling and post visit survey? (Yes or No)

Yes

Do you consent to pictures being shared for marketing and sponsorship purposes??

Yes

Required: IRS Determination Letter or Written Proof of Government Entity (For Public Schools)

Max. file size: 50 MB.

To be eligible to receive a transportation stipend through the community rides program, you must be registered as a vendor of Navy Pier to receive the payment. If you are not already a vendor, you MUST complete this form and supply a current W-9 form via Docusign here at the time of the application.

I understand applications without this paperwork will be considered incomplete and will not be eligible for a transportation stipend.(Required)

Yes, I completed the W-9 form via DocuSign required for the transportation stipend.

No, I did not apply for the transportation stipend.

All tickets must be picked up in person at Navy Pier. Tickets will be valid through June 30. 2025.

Community Rides Recipients

Spring 2024

A Safe Haven Foundation, A.S.B. Educational Institute, ACERO – Major Hector P Garcia High School, After School Matters, Alianza Leadership Institute DBA Alliance of the SouthEast (ASE), Asian Student Achievement, Association House of Chicago, Bartlett J. McCartin Boys & Girls Club of Chicago, Better Sister and Brother Growth Network, Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, Braven, Brighton Park Neighborhood Council, C24/7: Father’s Arms Ministries, Care2Prevent, Casa Esperanza Project, Chicago Advocate Legal, Chicago Freedom School, Chicago Jesuit Academy, Chicago Public Schools – Bell School, Chicago Women’s Health Center (CWHC), Face the Future Foundation, Farmworker and Landscaper Advocacy Project, Fellowship Housing Corporation, Generations Housing Initiatives, Gilda’s Club Chicago, House of the Good Shepherd, iMentor Chicago, Inter American Magnet School 3rd Grade, Jerome Burke Foundation, Kenwood Oakland Community Organization, Love To Serve, Incorporated, Mercy Home for Boys & Girls, Monee Girls on the Run, NDoula Community Alliance Inc, New Moms, Northwest Institute for Contemporary Learning, Operation Support Our Troops-America, Perez Elementary School – Chicago Public Schools, Project Education Plus, Project: VISION, Inc, Sarah’s Circle, She Is Undefeated Inc, Simply Destinee Youth Center, Sit Stay Read Inc., Step Up For Mental Health, TALENTED TENTH SOCIAL SERVICES, Teamwork Englewood, The Field School, The Still Searching Project, The Way Back Inn, Inc., TOTALLY POSITIVE PRODUCTIONS, TRI TOWN YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN, Urban Gateways, Variety the Children’s Charity of Illinois, VOA Illinois, Wheaton Warrenville South High School Community Unit District 200 Emotional Wellness Program, William F Finkl Elementary

Fall 2023

ACERO – Major Hector P Garcia High School, Acero Charter Schools, After School Matters, Ballet Folklorico de Chicago, Barnard Elementary, Bartoleme de las Casas, Better Sister and Brother Growth Network NFP, Big Brothers Big SIsters Metro Chicago, Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, Braven, Brighton Park Neighborhood Council, C24/7: Fathers Arms Ministries, Casa Esperanza Project, Chicago Jesuit Academy, Chicago Public School, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Scholars, Chicago-Lawndale AMACHI Mentoring Program (LAMP), Communities In Schools of Chicago, Corliss STEM High School, Daniel Webster Elementary School/Chicago Public Schools, Destined For Greatness, Inc., European American Association, Fellowship Housing, Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago, Free Root Operation, Friends of Bronzeville Classical School (BCS)- Chicago Public Schools, Gillespie Technology Magnet Cluster School, Girl Scouts Greater Chicago Northwest Indiana, Grant A Wish, Inc, Helping Hands Network, Horizon Science Academy-Belmont, House of the Good Shepherd, iMentor Chicago, John Howard Association of Illinois, Legacy Charter School, Luke O’Toole Elementary School, M.E.A.N. [Manage Emotions Avoid Negativity] Girls Empowerment, Mahalia Jackson Elementary School, Maplewood Housing for the Visually Impaired dba Friedman Place, Mercy Home for Boys & Girls, Mr. Dad’s Father’s Club, New Community Outreach, Northwest Center, Northwest Institute for Contemporary Learning, Party Per Purpose/Teen Center, Play Smart Literacy, RefugeeOne, SheWill Legacy NFP, Something Good in Englewood, Inc, South East Chicago Commission, Step Up, TOTALLY POSITIVE PRODUCTIONS (TPP), Universidad Popular, Variety – the Children’s Charity of Illinois, VOA Illinois, Way Back Inn, Women’s Board of the Chicago Urban League, World Language High School, and YouthBuild Lake County (YBLC)

Spring 2023

A Safe Haven Foundation, ACERO – Major Hector P Garcia High School, ACLA, After School Matters, Association House of Chicago, Better Sister and Brother Growth Network NFP, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago, Braven, Brighton Park Neighborhood Council, C24/7: Fathers Arms Ministries, Care2Prevent, Chicago Jesuit Academy, Chicago, Women’s Health Center, Children’s Legal Center, Chinese American Service League, Community TV Network, F.O.C.U.O.S., Face the Future Foundation, Family Legacy Foundation, Find Your Anchor, Forward Momentum Chicago, Free Root Operation, Friends of Suder, Grant A Wish Inc., Healing to Action, House of the Good Shepherd, iMentor Chicago, Jane Addams Resource Corporation, LEARN CHARTER CHICAGO- CAMPBELL CAMPUS, LIFT-Chicago, Mobile Care Chicago, New Community Outreach, New Moms, Of Color Inc., Peace Village, Project Education Plus (PEP), RefugeeOne, Sarah’s Circle, She Is Undefeated Inc., SheWill Legacy NFP, Sisters Working It Out NFP, Something Good in Englewood Inc., Somos Arte NFP, South Shore Drill Team & Performing Arts Ensemble, Step Up For Mental Health, Syrian Community Network, Ta’leef Collective, The Field School, The Night Ministry, TOTALLY POSITIVE PRODUCTIONS, UChicago Charter School – Woodlawn Campus, Walt Disney Magnet School, William F. Finkl Academy Elementary School, Youth Conservation Corps (YCC), and YWCA Metropolitan Chicago

Fall 2022

After School Matters, Alexander Leigh Center for Autism (ALCA), Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, The Chicago Public Library Foundation, Urban Alliance, A Safe Haven Foundation, ACERO Schools – Major Hector P Garcia M.D High School, Braven, Inc., Face the Future Foundation, Saint Leonard& Ministries, Step Up, Totally Positive Productions, Youth Guidance, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago, Hephzibah Children & Association, St. Nicholas of Tolentine School, World Chicago, C24/7: Father& Arms Ministries, Chicago Scholars, Esperanza Community Services, Illinois Institute of Technology, iMentor Chicago, Kids Above All, L.E.A.R.N Charter School Romano-Butler Campus, Peace Village, Chicago Scholars, Tutoring Chicago, Chicago Youth Centers , New Moms, Inc., Chicago Jesuit Academy, St. Procopius Dual Language School, Cornerstone Community Outreach, Northwest Side Housing Center, SheWill Legacy NFP, Bronzeville Classical School, House of the Good Shepherd, Talented Tenth Social Services, Inc., Operation Support Our Troops-America, Portfolio Resident Services, Old Town School of Folk Music, The Mercy Home for Boys & Girls, Project OneTen, Healthy Lombard, Jane Addams Resource Corporation, La Casa Norte, Find Your Anchor, Jerome Burke Foundation, Easterseals, Better Sister and Brother Growth Network, Indo American, and America Field Service

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Community Rides

Community Rides

How To Apply

Spring 2025 Application

Community Rides Submission Form - Spring 2025

Organization Information

Application Contact Information

Short Answer

Community Rides Recipients

Spring 2024

Fall 2023

Spring 2023

Fall 2022