Lakeside Jr/Sr High School’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) organization successfully concluded its “Soles for Souls” shoe drive fundraiser initiated in October to support members attending regional, state, and national competitions. The collection totaled 42 bags or approximately 1,000 pairs of shoes.
The FBLA club anticipates financial returns based on the total weight of the gently worn, used, and new shoes collected. Funds2Orgs, the facilitating organization, will issue a check for the shoes, with FBLA estimating potential earnings of around $850, considering an average weight of 2 lbs per pair. These funds will directly benefit Lakeside’s FBLA organization.
All donated shoes will be channeled into the Funds2Orgs network of micro-enterprise partners. Operating primarily in developing countries, Funds2Orgs collaborates with micro-entrepreneurs to establish and sustain small businesses. The proceeds from shoe sales generated through these fundraisers contribute to providing essentials like food, clothing, and housing for the entrepreneurs’ families. Notably, one entrepreneur in Haiti achieved the milestone of funding her son’s law school education through such initiatives.
Expressing enthusiasm for the successful conclusion of the shoe drive, FBLA sponsor Lesa Ward stated, “We are extremely excited about our shoe drive. We will raise money for our students to attend these various competitions throughout the year as well as help families in developing nations who need economic opportunities. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
Officially known as Future Business Leaders of America, FBLA is the high school division of a career and technical student organization (CTSO) dedicated to preparing students for careers in business. With a mission to “inspire and prepare students to become community-minded business leaders in a global society through relevant career preparation and leadership experiences,” FBLA boasts more than 196,950 members in 5,200 chapters across the US and other countries.