Kicks4Kids began as a project to provide 500 tennis shoes to my own students at Rio Vista Elementary several years ago but it has grown into a program that has now spread across six school districts with over 10,000 pairs (over $210,000 worth) collected and distributed to low-income students. Simply, it is the most successful program of its kind.
A huge thanks to Coach Johnson and Mountain View @MtnLionFootball for their generous donation to #Kicks4Kids !!! Once i get them all sorted, the sneakers will be delivered to one of your feeder schools. pic.twitter.com/1WXCMQGhRz
— Andy Morales (@AndyMorales8) August 29, 2019
The program is simple. High school sports teams collect one pair of new kid’s tennis shoes (size 12-6) per athlete and the shoes will be delivered to a low-income school in that school’s feeder pattern or to another school in need. If bigger sizes are collected, then we will find a middle school in need but that is not our primary focus. This fall, the Mountain View High School football team donated over 150 pairs of sneakers.
I was awarded the AZEdNews Classroom Grant in October on behalf of Kicks4Kids.
Individuals and groups can also contribute such as the National Elementary Honor Society and Student Council at Painted Sky Elementary. The program collected 200 pairs of shoes (108 this year) and donated an extra $1,000 to the cause. The AIA Football Referees donated over $1,000 worth of sneakers and money at their preseason gathering.
I almost cried again but made it through. Talked about my many mistakes as a sport dad/coach and the importance of doing good instead of well. About doing no harm in my reporting and that includes players, refs and coaches. Honored to receive $1K in donations for #Kicks4Kids https://t.co/Pu0jYYE8D4
— Andy Morales (@AndyMorales8) July 30, 2019
Also, companies can get involved. Frog and Firkin collected over $1,000 worth of sneakers last Christmas for Kicks4Kids, Club Cactus Volleyball donated well over $2,000 worth of new volleyball shoes and the Gators Swim Team collected well over $500 worth of shoes.
@MaranaWomen at @nighthawkvb plus shoes for #Kicks4Kids https://t.co/lzyAx2ROnl pic.twitter.com/Acyab9j5oB
— Andy Morales (@AndyMorales8) October 2, 2019
In addition, all profits from high school team photos and senior photos goes towards this program. The shoe bank is located at Rio Vista Elementary. Kicks4Kids is a non-profit entity.
I have a truck load of football/baseball cleats and shoes from Mark Brunenkant at Flowing Wells. #Kicks4Kids pic.twitter.com/bTmxypUKrR
— Andy Morales (@AndyMorales8) July 25, 2019
Schools in Kicks4Kids Program
Rio Vista Elementary (Amphi)
Holaway Elementary (Amphi)
Imagine Amphi Preschool (Amphi)
Keeling Elementary (Amphi)
Coronado K-8 (Amphi)
Roskruge K-8 (TUSD)
Nash Elementary (Amphi)
Prince Elementary (Amphi)
Walker Elementary (Amphi)
Carillo K-5 (TUSD)
Marshall Elementary (TUSD)
Mexicayotl Academy of Tucson (TUSD)
Homer Davis Elementary (Flowing Wells)
Hendricks Elementary (Flowing Wells)
Hollinger K-8 (TUSD)
Donaldson Elementary (Amphi)
Butterfield Elementary (Marana)
Laguna Elementary (Flowing Wells)
Walter Douglas Elementary (Flowing Wells)
Doolen Middle School (TUSD)
Casa de los Ninos (Program)
Miles Elementary (TUSD)
Manzo Elementary (TUSD)
Davis Elementary (TUSD)
Centennial Elementary (Flowing Wells)
Richardson Elementary (Flowing Wells)
C.E. Rose Elementary (TUSD)
Mission View Elementary (TUSD)
Lynn/Urquides Elementary (TUSD)
Ochoa Elementary (TUSD)
Sunnyside High School
Blenman Elementary (TUSD)
Borton Elementary (TUSD)
Holladay Elementary (TUSD)
Cavett Elementary (TUSD)
Roberts/Naylor K-8 (TUSD)
Lineweaver Elementary (TUSD)
Booth-Fickett Elementary (TUSD)
Cragin Elementary (TUSD)
Santa Clara Elementary (Sunnyside)
Liberty Elementary (Sunnyside)
Elvira Elementary (Sunnyside)
Mission Manor Elementary (Sunnyside)
Quail Run (Marana)
Pistor Middle Scholl (TUSD)
White Elementary (TUSD)
Grijalva Elementary (TUSD)
Hudlow Elementary (TUSD)
Sewell Elementary (TUSD)
Wright Elementary (TUSD)
Sierra (Sunnyside)
Los Amigos (Sunnyside)
Ocotillo (Sunnyside)
Drexel (Sunnyside)
Los Ninos (Sunnyside)
Calabasas (Rio Rico)
Hank Oyama Elementary (TUSD)
Tolson Elementary (TUSD)
Amphitheater High School (Amphi)
Maxwell Elementary (TUSD)
Flowing Wells High School (Flowing Wells)
Acacia Elementary (Vail)
Whitmore Elementary (TUSD)
Pueblo Gardens (TUSD)
Erickson Elementary (TUSD)
Fort Apache Reservation
Gallego Primary (Sunnyside)
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Andy Morales was recognized by the AIA as the top high school reporter in 2014, he was awarded the Ray McNally Award in 2017, a 2019 AZ Education News award winner and he has been a youth, high school and college coach for over 30 years. His own children have won multiple state high school championships and were named to all-state teams. Competing in hockey, basketball, baseball and track & field in high school, his unique perspective can only be found here and on AZPreps365.com. Andy is the Southern Arizona voting member of the Ed Doherty Award, recognizing the top football player in Arizona, and he was named a Local Hero by the Tucson Weekly for 2016. Andy was named an Honorary Flowing Wells Caballero in 2019. Contact Andy Morales at amoralesmytucson@yahoo.com
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