Drew Frank just recently had his bar mitzvah and instead of asking for gifts, he asked for cash donations. The cash gifts tallied up to $25,000 but none of them went to Drew's pockets. Instead, he has shown generosity that has caught the attention of thousands of Americans.
Any typical teen would love to use the amount to buy what he wants, but Drew, who hails from El Paso, Texas, opted to partner with the Braden Aboud Foundation. The non-profit organization aims to improve the health and educational development of young people in El Paso. They have their annual Braden Aboud Memorial Run/Walk, which has become the largest youth race in the nation. They also have an event where they give blankets for those who cannot afford them, especially during the cold season. Since 2008, they have been doing the Braden Aboud Great Shoe Giveaway, which aims to award a school with poor students with brand new shoes.
"I'm giving sneakers to these kids who may otherwise not have new sneakers," he says. "They just get shoes that have been passed down from generation to generation. I just wanted to give back to these kids who are less fortunate than me."
The Braden Aboud Great Shoe Giveaway is what Drew Frank wanted to support. With the $25,000, Frank was able to buy 800 pairs of Nike shoes and socks. 400 pairs of shoes went to an elementary school in the area while the rest will go to an orphanage and YWCA living center for women and children.
The Great Shoe Giveaway has been an annual event since 2008, but this is the first time that the foundation has partnered with just one person and not through donations or sponsored events. Cindy Aboud, founder of the foundation shared about how Drew and his family approached them about Drew's project.
She also professed her hope that Nike or another shoe retailer could partner with their foundation so that they can in turn buy more shoes to give away to children in low-income neighborhoods.
