Shoe Club Nation

07/06/2026

What a great way to end the year! This weekend, members from the East Jordan, Whitehall, and Boyne City Shoe Clubs came together for our Shoe Club Nation End-of-the-Year Celebration in Empire. The day was filled with adventure, teamwork, and fun as students climbed the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, participated in team-building games, and topped it all off with some well-earned ice cream. More importantly, it was a chance to celebrate an incredible year of growth, leadership, service, and friendship. These students have spent the year investing in themselves and others while living out the Shoe Club values of dreaming big, setting goals, working hard, and giving back. Thank you to all of our chapter leaders, supporters, and families who helped make this year such a success. We can't wait to see what these students accomplish next!

06/06/2026

Thank you to Andrea Bocelli for donating his shoes and writing a very thoughtful letter to club members. Bocelli is known around the world for his powerful voice, but even more so for his humility and ability to inspire others. Despite losing his sight at a young age, he never lost vision for his purpose - using his gift to bring hope and unity to millions. His story is a reminder of what it means to walk in your value. He has shown that challenges do not define us, our response to them does. We are honored to have his support!

30/05/2026

We're excited to debut this video highlighting the incredible first year of the Boyne City Shoe Club! What a value-packed year it has been! From building relationships and developing leadership skills to serving others and growing as individuals, the members of the Boyne City Shoe Club have done an outstanding job living out the values of dreaming big, setting goals, working hard, and giving back. A huge congratulations to the student members and to the amazing chapter leaders, Megan Burgess, Delaney Gravlin, and Chris Baxter, for creating such a positive and impactful experience for students.
Interested in bringing a Shoe Club chapter to your school? We'd love to connect with you. Visit ShoeClubNation.org to learn more about joining the Nation and helping students value themselves and others. https://vimeo.com/1196942739

First year proof of concept.

26/05/2026

We've been posting the what and how of Shoe Club. The most important thing is the why. This video is a great example of why.

An actual letter from a Shoe Club student.

25/05/2026

This Memorial Day, we are remembering and honoring the brave men and women who have served and sacrificed for our country. One of the coolest moments in Shoe Club history was when the Michigan National Guard flew a helicopter into East Jordan so they could visit GAR Veterans Park and spend time speaking with our Shoe Club members. It was an unforgettable experience and a powerful reminder of the service, leadership, and sacrifice shown by those who wear the uniform. Our students learned so many valuable lessons that day about gratitude, character, teamwork, and serving something bigger than yourself. Today, we want all veterans and current service members to know how much we appreciate you. Thank you for your sacrifice, your courage, and your commitment to protecting others. ❤️🤍💙

21/05/2026

One of our favorite traditions each year in Shoe Club Nation is our Random Acts of Kindness Day. This is a special opportunity for students to go out into the community and deliver cards, small gifts, and words of encouragement to people who often don’t expect it. It’s a simple activity, but the impact is powerful. More importantly, it teaches our students valuable life lessons - how to value others, show appreciation, lead with kindness, and realize that even small actions can make a big difference in someone’s day. In a world where negativity can be loud, we want our students to understand the importance of being people who bring encouragement, and positivity to others. Boyne City Shoe Club East Jordan Shoe Club

20/05/2026

Pilot schools prove it works! We’re looking to expand! Visit shoeclubnation.org for more info.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (May 20, 2026) Contact: Matt Hamilton • [email protected] • 616-916-6569 For 18 years, Shoe Club Nation lived in a single Michigan middle school classroom. This past school year, it lived in four. Today, founder Matt Hamilton announced that the program will expand to te...

18/05/2026

We were honored to be featured on 9&10 News this morning sharing the story and growth of Shoe Club Nation! What started in East Jordan continues to grow, and we are excited to be looking at adding more schools next year. Pass us on to any middle school staff who may be interested in leading a club at their school. The future is bright for Shoe Club Nation!

East Jordan Shoe Club members discuss details about the organization's upcoming expansion plan.

17/05/2026

We want to give a heartfelt thank you to Tate Myre’s dad (Buck) for donating a pair of Tate’s shoes to the Shoe Club. Tate lost his life during the Oxford High School shooting on Nov. 30th, 2021 - while trying to stop the shooter. Tate is remembered for his courage, leadership, kindness, and the way he cared deeply for others. His actions during the tragic events showed extraordinary bravery and left a lasting impact on people across the country. Having Tate’s shoes in the Shoe Club is incredibly meaningful because his story represents so many of the values we try to teach our students - character, compassion, leadership, and making a difference in the lives of others. We are deeply grateful to Tate’s family for sharing this piece of his story so that his legacy can continue to inspire young people for years to come.