- The Shoes for kids campaign will donate 5,000 pairs of shoes to children in Latin America and the Caribbean to support their dreams and celebrate the month dedicated to children.
- In the Dominican Republic, for the tenth consecutive year, 400 children of the Learn and Grow Program will receive the benefit.
“I want to be a doctor, I am very passionate about helping people and taking care of them,” says Sandra Carleny Rodríguez, who at the age of 7 is in fourth grade at Malaquías Gil School. His mother, Carienny Drullard, says that Sandra studies hard and is very applied. “She has always wanted to be a doctor since she was a child, even when she plays with her friends; she is the doctor and her friends are the patients.”
Sandra is part of a group of 400 children who are benefited by the Learn and Grow program and will receive during September, the month of the child in Payless, a pair of shoes donated by Payless. This initiative, which is now ten years old in the country, seeks to empower children’s dreams.
For the first time, Payless dedicates a full month to celebrate all children. In September, Payless celebrates the Shoes for Kids campaign in which it gives more than 5000 pairs of shoes to children in Latin America and the Caribbean. Also, all children’s shoes will be discounted for the smallest of the household to choose their favorite models.
“At Payless ShoeSource, we have a strong tradition of contributing to the communities in which we work and live, and for us, offering a pair of shoes that empowers poor children is an ideal way to support them to continue on the path to conquering their dreams. We are aware that in the region there is a high social vulnerability that directly affects children; therefore, our initiative seeks to provide shoes to children who despite their circumstances continue to believe in their dreams and fight for them, ” said Denise Bernard , Senior Director of Retail operations in Latin America and the Caribbean for Payless ShoeSource.
Other stories
The twins Carlos Yeansiel and Miguel Yeansiel María Abreu want to be veterinarians, “to take care of all the animals.” At 8, they are in fourth grade and strive to obtain good grades to achieve their dreams. Yineyki Abreu, her mother, affirms that they have animals at home, some little birds and a kitten, which they always care for and feed, so she says that “her father and I are going to support them to achieve what they want to be” .
Kiara Fermín Lugo, on the other hand, dreams of being a teacher, with 6 years she does not miss any opportunity to teach her friends, “She always spends her afternoon doing homework with her classmates and writes on the board to explain to the children how do school assignments, ”says his mother Altagracia Lugo.
With the “Shoes for Kids” initiative, the company is linked to important social works that benefit poor children in Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Dominican Republic and other countries from Latin America and the Caribbean.
To carry out the campaign, Payless joined the Dominican Republic again, the Learn and Grow Program. “We are very grateful for this donation of shoes, which allows 400 children to continue on the path of achieving their dreams, for us, it is an honor to be part of a campaign that allows improving the quality of life of Dominican children,” says Solanye Pineda , program coordinator in the Dominican Republic.
Official delivery
Payless attended the communities and made official delivery of the shoes to some of the children, and the rest will be done through the Learn and Grow Program, which will receive 400 bonuses worth RD $ 1200 c / u, so they can get them to the rest of the children benefited.
The goal is that each child can attend the nearest Payless store and there their foot is measured, so that they are guaranteed to choose the right size, in addition, that allows them to choose the shoe of their choice, within the wide range of children’s product offered by Payless; from Champion brand sports shoes, to the shoes of his favorite Disney, Nickelodeon and Marvel characters.
“Our greatest satisfaction is that children can enjoy a Payless shopping experience, having the possibility to choose, try on and purchase the shoes they like and serve to continue building their dreams,” said Eric Gonzalez, country manager of Payless Dominican Republic.
About the Learn and Grow Program
Learn and Grow is a program of Price Philanthropies, a nonprofit foundation based in San Diego, California. This organization was founded by Mr. Sol Price, who along with his son Roberto Price, began the operation of PriceSmart clubs in Latin America since 1994. The Price family strongly believes in supporting education and investing in youth as fundamental aspects for development Economic and social For this reason, and it joins efforts with local institutions in each country to promote the education of children.
About Payless ShoeSource
Payless ShoeSource is the number one footwear retailer in the United States and one of the largest worldwide, offering a wide range of footwear and accessories at affordable prices for each family member. The company’s mission is simple: Become the shoe store where you get more and pay less for our customers.
Payless serves millions of consumers through a strong global network with stores throughout the United States, as well as Puerto Rico, Guam, Saipan, Virgin Islands, Canada, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America. The company also has a broad presence in the eastern hemisphere through franchise agreements. Payless operates an online store and has around 3,500 physical stores in more than 30 countries.
Payless was founded in 1956, in Topeka, Kansas, with the revolutionary idea of selling quality shoes at affordable prices in a self-service environment. Sixty years later, Payless continues with its self-service model combined with industry-leading customer service to provide a fun and engaging shopping experience to its customers.
