NBA Referees Team Up with Non-Profit “It’s From the Sole” To Give Shoes To The Needy
It’s From The Sole is a non-profit donating shoes to the homeless community in New York City and around the world
December 11, 2017 — NBA referees are handing over their shoes for a great cause. On December 12, each referee officiating in one of the seven NBA games played will donate a pair of shoes to the New York City-based non-profit It’s From The Sole. All shoes donated will be given to a homeless individual.
It’s From The Sole (IFTS) is a non-profit charity founded in 2012 by Andre McDonnell, that distributes new and gently used sneakers to the homeless and less fortunate. IFTS has organized more than 19,000 shoe donations to the homeless community, both domestically and internationally. McDonnell, along with IFTS volunteers, go to the streets and shelters in cities across the United States and internationally to fit people of all ages with clean, comfortable footwear.
The relationship between the NBRA and IFTS started as a friendship between McDonnell and NBA referee Zach Zarba, who both attended State University of New York, New Paltz. “As a part of the NBRA, I know we are extremely fortunate and are always looking for ways to give back,” said Zarba. “I am also aware of the platform we have by working for what I consider the greatest, most progressive sports league in the world. By teaming up with Andre and ITFS, our goal is to use that platform to highlight all the tremendous work and good IFTS is doing in this country.”
Said McDonnell, “Zach has been working hard to get this partnership off the ground.”
NBA referees in the seven NBA games that evening will be donating either their shoes from the game itself or a different pair of shoes, and IFTS will distribute them to homeless individuals over the weeks and months after.
When asked about the inspiration behind his non-profit, McDonnell said: “One day in 2012, after playing basketball with friends, I spotted a homeless man with no shoes on his feet. A sense of urgency came over me that nudged my soul to take action. This nudge prompted me to take the sneakers off my feet, and offer them to this gentleman. Nothing compared to the immense gratitude he experienced with this small act of kindness. I knew in my heart there had to be something more I could do to make their walk-through life a little easier.”
To donate to It’s From The Sole and learn more about the organization, please visit their website: http://www.itsfromthesole.org
