When a major humanitarian cause is the buzz around town in Hollywood, it is not uncommon to witness a line-up of celebrity icons step up, reach out and show their support.
The ASHÉ Foundation, a California based non-profit organization, is one of those celebrity endorsed organizations. ASHÉ is committed to changing the lives of millions of children in Africa who have been orphaned by AIDS, and also of those closer to home. Through their efforts, the foundation gathers and distributes shoes, clothing, other necessities, and services to aid the disadvantaged and underprivileged children of African nations. ASHÉ also recognizes the needs of the displaced right here in our own backyard, by supplying shoes for the homeless and disadvantaged in the Los Angeles area.
ASHÉ manages five different programs: Shoes for Africa, Shoes for Los Angeles, It Takes a Village – Sponsor a Child, A Road To Success – “Every Child Deserves A Place to Learn” and “The Power To Make Things Happen” Scholarship.
On June 24th, Hollywood icons and athletes, Tom Arnold, Kenny Lattimore, Brandon Fobbs, Howard Hewett, Essence Atkins, Claudia Wells, Jonathan Bennett, Teddy Riley, Niecy Nash, Antonio Cromartie, Harry Smith, Ananda Lewis, and Mark Allen Fenton will perform, and many more will be on tap to join The ASHÉ Foundation as they wash the feet and place clean white socks and adequate shoes on the displaced and disadvantage men in the courtyard of The Midnight Mission located at 601 South San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Actor Tom Arnold says, “This is simple and specific and I can see wrapping my brain around supporting this foundation.”
“This type of community outpouring is amazing and the timing couldn’t be better,” added Larry Adamson, president of the mission. “With our economy suffering and the demand for our services rising, we know that it will take efforts like this from the local community to get us through these trying times. We are grateful to have the opportunity to facilitate this marvelous event.”
To date, The ASHÉ Foundation has traveled to Maputo, Mozambique where they distributed over 3500 pairs of shoes and clothing to a crowd of 7000. They will travel to the Cote D’Ivoire and to Ghana in early September to distribute shoes, clothing, soccer equipment, school supplies and medical supplies to orphans in the city of Abidjan, Azurretti and to the Pram Pram Health Center in Accra, Ghana. Working with The Kanimambo Foundation, the foundation will return to Maputo, Mozambique in January 2010 to distribute shoes, clothing and mosquito netting. The mosquito netting helps to prevent malaria.
If you or someone you know has a brand new pair of men’s shoes to donate to the Midnight Mission event on June 24th, please contact The ASHÉ Foundation at (323) 850-6964. For more information about The ASHÉ Foundation visit: www.theashefoundation.org
