The Foot Locker Foundation joined together a diverse and star-studded set of members of the athletic industry for its 16th annual “On Our Feet” fundraising gala.
The event, which took place on Tuesday, October 18 at New York City’s Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers, will benefit educational and other youth initiatives supported by the Foot Locker Foundation.
“As a company, we have a responsibility to give back, and that’s why we’ve made Community one of our core values,” said Dick Johnson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Foot Locker, Inc. "We believe that education is critical to being successful. This signature event fuels our ability to provide funding for programs such as The Foot Locker Scholar Athletes Program and our long-standing scholarship with UNCF, and allows remarkable student athletes to develop great skills, expand their horizons and become future leaders across the globe."
Executives from the sports industry, professional athletes, and celebrities joined athletic footwear and apparel companies including Nike, Converse, adidas, Puma and Under Armour, to name a few, to lend their support to this important cause. Celebrity guests, including Victor Cruz (NY Giants), Matt Forté (NY Jets), Chazz Palminteri (Actor), Aly Raisman (Olympic Gold Medalist), Walt “Clyde” Frazier (NBA Legend), and Brook Lopez (Brooklyn Nets), were among those who attended the evening’s festivities. All guests wore traditional black-tie attire while sporting their favorite pair of sneakers.
The Foot Locker Foundation, Inc. is the charitable arm of Foot Locker, Inc., a specialty athletic retailer that operates approximately 3,400 stores in 23 countries in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Over the years, the Foot Locker Foundation, Inc. has developed significant partnerships and programs to improve and enrich the educational, health and sports opportunities for youth across the country, and has awarded over 900 scholarships to outstanding students through all of its programs. On Our Feet has raised more than $17 million to support our youth since its inception.
Launched in 2011, the Foot Locker Scholar Athletes Program each year awards $20,000 college scholarships to 20 exceptional students, who demonstrate academic excellence and exemplify strong leadership skills both in sports and within their communities. In addition, one of the 20 students will be awarded the Ken C. Hicks Scholarship in honor of the organization’s former Chairman and CEO, who played an instrumental role in the development of the program. The scholarship recipient will receive additional funding for exemplifying elevated academic achievement, personal passion, and a true love of the game. Students can apply online or be nominated by teachers, coaches, mentors, family or friends by visiting footlockerscholarathletes.com. Applications close December 16, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. (EST).
UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students’ education and development through scholarships and other programs, strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding nearly 20 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF awards more than $100 million in scholarships annually and administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at over 1,100 colleges and universities. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized motto, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste, but a wonderful thing to invest in.” Learn more at www.uncf.org.
