PORTFOLIO: Samaritan’s Feet Infiniti Coaches Challenge

 

Please visit http://promo.espn.go.com/espn/contests/infiniti/2011/ and vote for Coach John Calipari and Samaritan’s Feet.

For more information about Samaritan’s Feet visit http://www.samaritansfeet.org.

Barefoot Inspiration Expands to Students

Coaches across the nation have been going barefoot to raise awareness for Samaritan’s Feet since 2008, but last Friday the inspiration expanded beyond just the sidelines.  It spread to the stands.

 

Going barefoot during athletic events has raised awareness of Samaritan’s Feet across the country and has begun to influence fans to sacrifice their footwear for the hope of a better life for children in need.  At the Butler vs. Green Bay basketball game on January 21^st, people not only noticed Brad Stevens going barefoot for charity but also Butler’s fan-based organization Dawg Pound who forfeited their shoes for the cause.  The expansion of going barefoot from coaches to fans shows that Samaritan’s Feet has spoken and inspired students and adults alike for a common cause.

 

As Butler University continues to embrace and expand the Barefoot for Bare Feet campaign, other universities are continuing to adopt the trend of going barefoot for charity across the nation.  What began as an evolving idea first originated with IUPUI basketball coach Ron Hunter has expanded to thousands of coaches from coast to coast willing to kick off their shoes to make a difference.

 

As Samaritan’s Feet continues to inspire coaches on the sidelines and fans in the stands, the hope of motivating individuals beyond the court is within reach, one step at a time.

 

 

-Lissa Phillips

“Service is the rent we pay to live on this Earth”

I grew up with a Dad whose mantra is “service is the rent we pay to live on this Earth”, so volunteering and non-for-profits have always been important to me. I was so excited to hear the founder and CEO of Samaritan’s Feet, Emmanuel Ohonme, come speak at Butler University.

 

In college it is very easy to get wrapped up in yourself and what is going on in your little bubble. When Manny spoke I think he grounded every single college student in that room. He was one of the best speakers I’ve ever heard. His story was phenomenal and so inspiring.

 

Manny did not own a pair of shoes besides flip-flops until he was 10 years old. He is now running a humanitarian relief organization with the goal of giving a million shoes a year to children who don’t have any.

 

From Manny’s speech I took away a few key lessons. Manny grew up with hardly anything, but he never lost hope. Even though at times he was discouraged he never gave up. He worked very hard to get where he is today. A lot of us are very fortunate to have the live the lifestyle we do, so it is important to give back. Do you really need all 15 pairs of shoes in your closet when a child in Nigeria doesn’t even have one pair?

 

I hope to become more involved with Samaritan’s Feet. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is their national day of service. I am planning on participating in a shoe distribution that day. I would also like to go on an international shoe distribution trip before I graduate.

For more information about Samaritan’s Feet social media initiative please visit http://www.barefootforbarefeet.com.

-Rachel Gold