A Heart Of Gold

Zaire Downs may be only 13-years-old but he’s changing hearts and ‘soles’ one step at a time. He raised more than $1,800 and collected a 100 pairs of sneakers for kids to wear on the first day of school in Rochester, New York.

Zaire says he wants them to feel confident and good about themselves at the start of the year. On distribution day, 400 families showed up to take home one of the hundred pairs. Zaire hopes those turned away will get a fresh pair by the time the first school bell rings.

His dedication has been called both “exceptional and inspiring”.