8th Grade Boys Want The Less Fortunate To Walk In Their Shoes
The holiday season just got a lot busier for a few local 8th grade students, and they’re all very happy about it. The three young men are on a goodwill mission to outfit youth in need with a pair of new or nearly new high end sneakers through their recently founded charity, Sole Bros INC. Classmates and shoe enthusiast Spencer Boyd
, Curtis Harrison and Kellen Newman came up with the idea during a recent conversation about the latest tennis shoe craze. It’s really no surprise to those who know them, considering that they are all athletes raised by good parents to be compassionate young men who not only excel in sports and academics but also in community service. Sole Bros, their newly founded humanitarian organization that collects high end sneaker donations to improve the lives of children across the globe, announced its official launch today. Instead of a traditional birthday party for co-founder, Boyd, Sole Bros will officially launch their foundation with a fundraiser that coincides with Boyd’s 13th birthday. The event will take place on December 4 at the Westin Hotel in downtown Cincinnati.
“We have invited 120 of our classmates, friends and family members to come out and celebrate the formation of Sole Bros with us. In lieu of birthday presents, we are asking guests to make contributions to the organization,” stated Boyd. “Since we’re just getting off the ground, we are hoping to raise enough money to secure proper storage facilities and resources to house the shoes until we ship them in the summer,” he continued. Sole Bros has teamed up with the RuJohn Foundation, a 501 c(3), non-profit organization whose mission is to provide the necessary tools for education to the rural and inner city schools
of the United States and Jamaica. The partnership will allow for a more comprehensive and seamless distribution of the products. To secure additional funding for shipping costs, Sole Bros are also planning to host two Feet Fetes next month to collect new, and nearly new, high end sneakers in all sizes. Donors will have the opportunity to learn more about the organization, take a very brief tour of the storage unit, as well as be treated to hot chocolate and cookies. The Sole Bros founders feel that while people are at their most generous during the holiday season, it would be a good time to have “open houses” at the storage unit. They’re also hoping that as the season changes and people begin to purge their closets, they think of donating their tennis shoes to Sole Bros. Sole Bros is currently investigating other potential partners and planning several events in 2016 to actively engage people in the Tri-State area in their most worthy cause. While the boys are just 8thgraders as they launch this initiative, they have the support of their families and feel that they can grow and continue to serve as they go through high school and beyond.
“We’re committed to providing proper footwear both directly to those in need and to organizations serving the homeless and underprivileged for years to come,” said Harrison. “In our attempt to provide new and gently used shoes to the poorest of the world's people, we’re seeking shoe companies, retailers, and individuals that can donate footwear so we can distribute them to those in need both in our very own communities and around the world,” he continued. Newman noted that Sole Bros Inc has a goal of delivering 1000 pairs of shoes to the RuJohn foundation this spring. All three young men are elite athletes and understand the concept of “it takes a village”. Through their own personal experiences, they believe that more kids will participate in physical activity, and be healthier when wearing proper fitting footwear. They believe that if kids feel comfortable and feel as though they fit in with their peers, they’re more happy and healthy. Sole Bros was created in part so that every kid could feel the same pride and sense of self worth that its founders do when they slip on a pair of high end athletic shoes for the first time. The three young men are also confident that those who contribute to the cause will feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. How fitting for their slogan to be, “Good for the heart. Good for the mind. Good for the sole. The boys expect to grow their organization by partnering with other non-profits that deliver services in areas with extremely limited resources. They anticipate eventually sending shoes to other Countries in the Caribbean, Africa, and depressed areas in the United States. For more information, visit us at www.solebrosinc.org, instagram@theofficialsolebros and Facebook/Sole Bros Inc
