Canutillo High School cheerleaders lined the path of the entry of Bill Childress Elementary School on the morning of Nov. 16 as kids arrived on campus surrounded by the beats of the CHS drumline. It was an exciting morning at BCE but the students had no idea why and that they were in for a special surprise.
Later that morning, BCE Principal Jonathan Flores eagerly proclaimed to the student body during a small pep rally that each BCE student was going to be receiving a brand new pair of shoes provided by the Braden Aboud Foundation as part of the foundation’s B Strong, B Giving Shoe Giveaway.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Braden Aboud Foundation for choosing our wonderful kids at Bill Childress Elementary as recipients of the shoe giveaway this year,” said Flores. “It is a great way to kick off the holiday season and provide families with a bit of relief during this challenging time.”
The B strong, B Giving Shoe Giveaway has put more than 9,000 pairs of brand new tennis shoes on the feet of children in El Paso. Annually, the foundation chooses schools in need to be recipients of new tennis shoes for every child on the selected campus. The program is now in its 14th year and has donated shoes to over sixteen campuses across five school districts.
The BCE students beamed with excitement as they received and tried on their new pair of shoes and socks. Third grader, Judiah David Madrid wasn’t expecting to receive new shoes but he felt it was time to part with his previous pair and is looking forward to putting his new sneakers to work.
“I am very happy and glad to get new shoes,” Madrid said. “My shoes are old and I can’t wait to run and jump in these.”