Kicks4Kids annual fundraiser to provide shoes to inner-city students

(WJBK) - CheKeita Jones, a former Pontiac schoolteacher, was appalled by the condition of her students' shoes after a brutal winter a few years ago. She raised some money and got sneakers for every student in her sixth grade class. In fact, her fundraiser was so successful that she was able to get new shoes for every sixth grader in the school.

Shortly after, Kicks4Kids was born.

To date, the foundation has supplied more than 850 pairs of sneakers to in-need grade school students in Detroit and Pontiac. On Friday, May 13, Jones will hold her sixth annual fundraiser at Bosco in Ferndale. The event is $20 and includes complimentary food, raffles and a silent auction. You can get tickets here.

The fundraiser has also been expended this year to a weekend of service, and includes a special sale and shoe donation drive at Burn Rubber Sneaker Boutique in Royal Oak Saturday, and the chance to break in your new sneaks Sunday at the annual NKF Michigan Kidney Walk at the Detroit Zoo.

For more information, visit www.kicks4kidsfoundation.org.