Balanced Life Skills has just sent out over 600 pairs of shoes to Soles 4 Souls. They will deliver them to children and individuals around the world, many of them who have never owned a pair of shoes before. We are grateful for the wonderful contribution and service made by Pitt Ohio Express who came, shrink wrapped the pallets and loaded them on the truck. The driver was very pleasant and helpful. Our own students put the shoes together and boxed them up to prepare them for shipping.
Balanced Life Skills is sponsoring the visit of Brian Williams, the Sole Motivator for Sole4Souls, a non profit organization that has given away over 5.5 million pairs of shoes around the globe. The following is the press release to our local media. I have highlighted how you can help.
Annapolis, MD – November 4, 2009 – On November 9th, 5 local schools in Annapolis will host the Soles4Souls Think Kindness Program. Soles4Souls, a Nashville based non-profit organization, is sending one of the nation’s top youth motivational speakers, Brian Williams to travel the country in search for the “kindest school”. Over 50 schools across the country have signed up for the Soles4Souls Kindness Challenge in hopes of receiving the first annual award.
Students will be challenged to inspire their entire city to sponsor over 5,000 shoes for needy children throughout the United States and world. The Soles4Souls organization can distribute 2 pairs of brand new shoes for every $5.00 donation received.
“We’ve set up a cutting edge website that allows each student to create a profile, send emails, post pictures, and allows for friends and family do donate $5.00 under their name. Individuals can also text message the letters AOK (acts of kindness) to 20222 and it will make a $5.00 donation on their phone bill.” Says Wayne Elsey, CEO of Soles4Souls
Williams opens the challenge with an action packed martial arts speech with back flips and a brick breaking routine.
“In martial arts I learned that kindness is the ultimate form of self-defense. Yet, when you do nice things for others, you open yourself up to be teased for doing the right thing. I tell students to have no fear and to be committed to being good people no matter what. Martial arts serves avenue to truly speak to the students,” says Williams.
The entire school is given drop boxes, parent letters, Acts of Kindness Journals, morning announcement CD’s, and teacher packets with idea’s submitted by teachers from across the country.
“If we can inspire every child in our local community to do kind things, then our world will truly be made a better place. We use shoes as the catalyst to teach the ever important life skill,” says Elsey.
For more information about the program visit www.GiveShoes.org
