Tag: Making Kicks Count

Making Kicks Count: Gym manager suprises member with Down syndrome with new shoes

Brandon King

CJ is a Planet Fitness member in Woonsocket , Rhode Isalnd who showed up at the gym to work out in boots ( which apparently is against their rules) instead of sneakers. Gym manager Daniel Cote decided to do something about it that did not involve just putting him out. He found out CJ’s shoe size from his caregiver and actually went to athletic store and came back with a brand new pair of Under Armour sneakers for CJ. Here is what his caregiver posted to social media after this…

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Making Kicks Count: Missouri children get free kicks for Angels of the Hardwood

Brandon King

Earlier this month, Yander Law Basketball, The Basketball Movement, and the Pat Jones Family YMCA joined forces to host Angels of the Hardwood , a free event whose goal is , according to Yander Law’s website, “to make a difference in the lives of children and let them know that people care. At the event, over 100 pairs of sneakers were given away to local children. Event co-organizer Rob Yanders said, “It is all about giving back to our youth in our community. It is about making people really feel…

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Making Kicks Count: Damian Lillard donates shoes for “Kicks to Beat Cancer”

Brandon King

Portland Trail Blazers star guard Damian Lillard is donating a pair of signed shoes for the “Kicks to Beat Cancer” initiative, which is part ESPN’s V Week for Cancer Research. Lillard, along with a host of NBA and WNBA players have donated shoes that will be auctioned off to raise funds for the V Foundation. From the ESPN press release pertaining to the event: Kicks to Beat Cancer (Nov. 26-Dec. 6): ESPN commentator and professional athletes are putting their “kicks” to good use by reaching into their extensive shoe collections…

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Making Kicks Count: Florida man donates hundreds of sneakers to local children

Brandon King

Since 2005 Jason Roberts has been a collector of Air Jordans and other Nikes and in that time he built a collection that was hundreds of sneakers deep. While renovating his West Palm Beach home a few months back, he had an epiphany while looking at his collection.     “I felt that there are kids out there that can put them to better use to them than I can,” Roberts said. Jason spoke with a coach at Jeaga Middle School in West Palm Beach and asked him if any…

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Making Kicks Count: Cardi B hands out sneakers at Brooklyn housing complex

Brandon King

Last month rapper Cardi B gave out hundreds of jackets and sneakers at a Brooklyn housing project. She had this to say about the drive at the Marlboro Houses to CBS News: We have to set an example for the kids. Sometimes people think that we just do the messed up things but we really… care for the kids and our community and everything. The entertainer was gifted a symbolic key to the Marlboro Houses for her efforts.

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Making A Difference: Sneaker Stock Market Organizers Collect Shoes for the Homeless

Brandon King

Last month sneaker enthusiasts from the Bay Area and surrounding locales come together not only for the usual buying, selling and trading but also to help the less fortunate.   Organizer DJ Kay Rich had this to say of the philanthropic aspect of the sneaker event: So people who have gently worn sneakers that they are trying to get rid of we collect those as well and take them to the Poverello House and give them to communities.  

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Making Kicks Count: Orange Bowl Committee and South Florida Schools collect over 1,300 pair of shoes for local children

Brandon King

The Orange Bowl Committee, a non-profit sports organization that serves South Florida, in partnership with TD Bank, worked with local schools to collect over 1,300 pair of shoes. Their Kicks for Kids program, (not to be confused with the Kicks 4 Kids. Foundation) has been around since 2011 and is “a program designed to provide South Florida’s underserved youth the opportunity to participate in a reap the rewards of sports and exercise by receiving a pair of good athletic shoes.” Schools in The Miami-Dade and Broward County area collect shoes…

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Making Kicks Count: Upstart sneaker brand looks to make impact in local community

Brandon King

Davi is new sneaker brand founded by former Nike director Gabriel Williams that seeks to make a difference in its community. I really feel like business should play a key role in supporting the communities that support it. At davi, we always say it, like me and the team, we’re just more than a sneaker company. We really want to build a brand that encourages and empowers people. Williams said in starting this company, he wanted to sell a sneaker that would help the local arts, music, and sports programs.…

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Making A Difference: Vans Donates more than 2,500 sneakers to CA fire victims

Brandon King

The deadly Carr fire has been ablaze since July 23. In that time it has destroyed more than 214,000 acres and claimed over 1,000 homes. Although it is 71% contained, Cal Fire says there are still approximately 3,800 firefighters working to contain it. In light of this tragic event, Vans has stepped in to offer some help to victims. Wednesday a truck pulled up to Vans’. Anderson California outlet that was driven by Steve Van Doren,Vice President and son of the brand’s co-founder. The truck contained 2,500 pairs of shoes…

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Making A Difference: Spurs Rook Lonnie Walker IV donates 300 pairs of shoes to hometown basketball league

Brandon King

With our ongoing series, Stupid Things People Do For Sneakers, we have the unfortunate tasks of bringing to you the depravity that sneakers can cause. This is a sneaker-related story that should bring a smile to your face. According to the Reading Eagle’s Mike Drago, San Antonio Spurs rookie Lonnie Walker, along with Adidas exec Eric Wise, helped deliver 300 pairs of shoes to the Blacktop Basketball League in Redding, Pennsylvania. “Lonnie has been nothing but genuine in being a role model and carrying himself the right way,” Blacktop board…

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