Sole Proprietors
INNERSOLE inspires self-confidence in underprivileged children A pair of shoes can change your life. Just ask
lacing up for the
Dawn Staley, head coach of the University of
basketball courts of North
South Carolina women’s basketball team. No
Philadelphia so many
stranger to adversity, the three-time Olympic
years ago. “Our goal is to
gold medalist and University of Virginia
instill self-esteem,” Angela
graduate honed her athletic abilities on the
says. “We’re not always
basketball courts of North Philadelphia, in an
going to be there for these
environment where—she is fond of saying—“I
kids. We’re not always
didn’t care about how I looked from the
going to be able to provide
ankles up, as long as the ankles down looked
them with new shoes. But
really good.” Love of great footwear, and a
what we are able to do is
belief in the self-confidence and determination
lay a foundation for them,
that a new pair of shoes can inspire in their
to help build the skills they
owner, are the animating principles behind
need to be successful.”
Coach Staley’s nonprofit INNERSOLE. Co-founded in 2013 with organization vice president Rene McCall Flint, INNERSOLE has donated over 7,500 shoes to underprivileged children in South Carolina, partnering with low performing schools and encouraging young people to take responsibility for their education.
Major corporations like
dawn staley’s innersole uses sneakers as an incentive for students to do well in school.
Nike and Under Armour are following INNERSOLE’s lead, signing on as sponsors to support the neediest students in South Carolina. Community leaders are taking note as well. A recent partnership with former Governor Nikki Haley’s Original Six Foundation has allowed INNERSOLE to
“INNERSOLE uses sneakers as an incentive
extend its reach significantly, donating shoes
for the students to do well in school,” Director
to second graders and classroom supplies to
of Operations Angela O’Neal says of Educate
teachers in schools from Allendale county
My Sole, the nonprofit’s core initiative. “We
to Union county and beyond. “The young
challenge students to compete in five areas:
people that we’re reaching now are going to
reading, academics, attendance, character,
be our workforce in ten years,” Angela says.
and physical fitness.” The spirit of healthy
“We need to go in and teach teamwork, and to
competition that ensues among students at
inspire kids to come to school ready to learn,
participating schools is “contagious,” Angela
so we can make our state great.”
says, spreading from classroom to classroom and instilling the same values of discipline and determination Coach Staley discovered
Support from Central Carolina Community
fundholder — is instrumental in fulfilling this mission, Angela says. By taking administrative burdens off of their shoulders, the Community Foundation allows Angela, Rene, and Coach Staley to devote their time to what she calls “the good work.” “We’re able to focus all of our efforts on filling the requests for the shoes,” she says. What’s more, the Community Foundation serves as an enduring source of guidance as INNERSOLE seeks to deepen its impact here in the Palmetto State. “It’s been a blessing to have the Foundation on our side,” Angela says. “South Carolina has been very good to us, and we want to continue to be very good to South Carolina.” By Luke Hodges
Foundation—where INNERSOLE is a
letter FroM cHeerFul Giver | 2
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We are a nonproFit orGaniZation servinG 11 counties in tHe Midlands bY distributinG Grants and scHolarsHips and linKinG tHe resources oF donors, nonproFits and coMMunitY leaders to areas oF need.
neWs brieF | 2 donor advised Funds | 3 annual suMMarY | 4-5 pHilantHropY across cultures | 6 dJJ YoutH conduct sc pHil | 7 HonorinG pHilantHropists | 7 corporations WHo care | 8
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