INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The Education Foundation of Indian River County (EF-IRC) is pleased to recognize the employees of the School District of Indian River County office. The employees raised over $1,200 to support the first three Sneaker Exchanges at the start of the new school year.
More than 65 employees who work at the School District County office contributed between .50 and $1 each Friday to “denim day fund.” Participating employees earned the opportunity to wear denim by donating to the philanthropic effort to provide children in need a pair of socks and sneakers.
“The really neat thing about this gift is that it was the employees’ idea. The money came through them, and they wanted to use the dollars that they accumulated to support this cause. So I applaud them for wanting to give this money back to the community,” commented Superintendent of Schools Dr. Fran Adams.
The Sneaker Exchange Program’s mission is to provide sneakers and socks to 2,000+ children in need in grades K-12. These efforts help to keep students on a path of learning with renewed confidence and self-esteem.
The sneakers also allow students to participate safely in all school activities.
The average cost to serve a student is $20.
The program is about meeting a child’s needs. But there is also an even deeper component to the program.
More than 100 volunteers from Holy Cross Catholic Church, local businesses, the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals, and other community groups donate their time 58 times from September to May to help students at weekly Sneaker Exchanges.
The gift of their time to assist and mentor a child is invaluable. In less than an hour, children share their dreams, their ideas, and their hopes for whom and what they want to become.
To learn more about the EF-IRC and the Sneaker Exchange Program, please visit: www.EdFoundationIRC.org , email to Director@EdFoundationIRC.org, or call (772) 564-0034.
Charitable donations may be made on the EF-IRC website or by mailing a check to: P.O. Box 7046, Vero Beach, FL 32961.
