VERO BEACH — The Education Foundation of Indian River County is pleased to announce that they have been selected as an official partner of Payless Gives, an annual giving program from Payless ShoeSource.
The Education Foundation of Indian River County is among 800 charitable agencies representing all 50 states in the United States, across Canada and Puerto Rico and in 10 Latin American countries to be part of the program.
The Education Foundation of Indian River County will be distributing sneakers through the Sneaker Exchange Program that serves the public schools of the School District of Indian River County.
The Education Foundation of Indian River County operates completely separate from the local school district and is funded almost entirely through private donations and grants. The Foundation works closely with the local school district to prioritize program and funding needs. This unique structure allows the Foundation to direct funding directly into the classroom, thus avoiding restrictions that often come with other funding sources.
“In its third year, the goal of the Payless Gives Shoes 4 Kids program remains the same — to provide footwear, a basic necessity, to children who might otherwise go without,” said LuAnn Via, CEO of Payless. “The success of the program over the past three years, and the number of children and families we have been able to assist, continues to drive our efforts. Unemployment is still very high, affecting many families that struggle to provide their children with basic essentials. This is especially challenging during the holidays, and with the Education Foundation of Indian River County’s help, we hope to make a bigger impact than ever this year.”
For more information about the ways in which the Education Foundation of Indian River County is helping our community this holiday season through the Sneaker Exchange, visit www.edfoundationirc.org or email director@edfoundationirc.org or call (772) 564-0034.