Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Kristen Duus | Alex Duus, a second-grader at Milam Elementary School, tries on a new pair of shoes...... read more read more
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FORT BLISS, Texas—More than 600 shoe boxes lined tables in the gym at Milam Elementary School, as 75 volunteers from local Fort Bliss units and high schools, ushered students through to pick up their new shoes, April 8.
The giveaway is sponsored yearly by the Braden Aboud Foundation. Braden was an El Pasoan who died in a skiing accident in 8th grade.
“He left the earth too soon,” said Amy Marcus, the chairman of the giveaway for the foundation. “We just want to honor his memory because we want kids to be like Braden.”
Braden had a zest for life, and wanted to give back to those less fortunate. While he was in middle school, students were required to wear uniforms. Students could wear their own shoes, which made Braden realize that some were less fortunate than others.
The foundation holds a walk/run every year, and buys shoes from a major corporation with the money they make, donating through the B Strong Shoe Giveaway.
They have donated more than 4,000 pairs of shoes in the last seven years. The donation to Milam Elementary marked the largest giveaway the foundation has participated in.
Milam Elementary has applied for the shoe giveaway for the past four years, and this year it came to fruition. The students at the school earned the donation by demonstrating positive behavior and encouraging physical fitness.
“They come and support the race every year and they support their kids,” said Marcus. “We like to go to neighborhoods that have a lot of need, and we thought this school was worthy through their applications of supporting the students.”
Marcus hopes the gesture will make the students think about doing the right thing all the time, being kind, strong and doing all the things Braden would have done.
| Date Taken: | 04.08.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 04.15.2015 16:55 |
| Story ID: | 160094 |
| Location: | EL PASO, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 168 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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