Business with a Purpose: the Shoe That Grows
When I first heard Kenton Lee speak at my university, I was both inspired and proud of the work that he is doing. Founder of “The Shoe That Grows” and “Because International,” business owner Kenton Lee seeks to provide shoes to children who need them.
While visiting an orphanage in Kenya, Lee noticed that the children around him were cutting open the fronts of their shoes in order to make room for their toes to stick out. Even though shoes had previously been provided to these kids, their feet quickly grew. He pondered how he could help solve this problem.
Eventually, “The Shoe That Grows” was born. Based out of rural farm-town Nampa, Idaho, this non-profit has grown immensely over the past few years. “Our mission is to use products as solutions to alleviate poverty,” states the organization. “The Shoe That Grows” can “grow” up to 5 shoe sizes. This allows children to have well-fitting shoes for a much longer period of time. “They never dreamed it would be the worldwide cause and movement that it is today” [BecauseInternational.com].
Donors can choose to purchase shoes for children overseas. Each year, there is also a “Wear-a-Pair” fundraiser to help raise money for this noble cause. Find more info at https://becauseinternational.org/the-shoe-that-grows and be on the lookout for a possible future interview with Because International!
| Alisha Peru | www.alishaperu.com
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