Soles4Souls third annual Race4EveryKid event, a virtual movement challenge, knocked it out of the park by raising more than $250,000 that resulted in 12,530 pairs of shoes given to children experiencing homelessness across the country. Every $20 raised through Race4EveryKid provided a pair of new kicks to a homeless child, allowing them to attend school, try out for a sports team, and stay active.
“This year, we doubled the number of participants and nearly double the funds raised,” reports Buddy Teaster, CEO of the charitable organization. “So many people got involved, including our staff, board, and brand partners, and we were so happy with the results.”
One such brand partner was Nike. In the final week of the month-long fundraiser, the company matched participant donations, resulting in an extra 1,223 kids receiving new shoes. “This was the first time Nike was involved, and the first time we had a brand partner offer matching donations for the Race4EveryKid,” Teaster says. “Having their support really helped us bring in more donations in the final week of the race. Their support was huge.”
Unfortunately, the race to assist children in need of housing continues. More than 1.5 million American children currently experience homelessness, and in Soles4Souls’ hometown of Nashville, TN, more than 4,000 children lack a stable residence. “We plan to keep aiming high for the next year,” Teaster says. “The race gets better and better each year, so I know that we’ll be upping our goal and providing more new athletic shoes to children experiencing homelessness.”
