Why? Goodie Two Shoes
In 2003, Nikki and Tony Berti, co-founded the Goodie Two Shoes Giveaway, a one-day event to provide disadvantaged children with new shoes. They patterned their Giveaway after a similar but much simpler event they volunteered for annually during Tony’s playing days with the NFL’s San Diego Chargers. (1995-1998) Upon Tony’s retirement from the NFL in 2001, they brought the concept home to Las Vegas.
Their Goodie Two Shoes Giveaway garnered tremendous community support and experienced significant growth during the event’s first five years and, in 2007, the Goodie Two Shoes Giveaway officially grew into the Goodie Two Shoes Foundation, a Las Vegas-based 501c3 charitable organization. In 2008, GTSF added additional outreach events to its programming in an effort to serve 4,000 children annually. And, in 2010, GTSF launched its mobile shoe unit, a 48’ custom shoe-store-on-wheels, which takes GTSF’s year-round programming directly to children in need at their school or referring agency. With this new unit, GTSF is able to serve 10,000 at-risk Southern Nevada children annually.
What makes GTSF different? Our programming is based on the premise that we don’t just provide a child with a new pair of shoes. We measure their feet on-site to ensure proper fit. We pair them one-on-one with a community volunteer, whom takes a special interest and walks them through the process. We make them the center of attention, and we EMPOWER them with choice; by giving them the opportunity to select any pair of properly fitting shoes they choose from our large inventory of high-quality athletic shoes, just like the ones their friends at school are wearing.
In the short-term, GTSF’s programming provides simple necessities in a fun and exciting atmosphere. But long after the recipients outgrow their Goodie Two Shoes of choice, we hope the children remember their positive interaction with a caring community volunteer and the feelings of empowerment that came with making an unrestrained, positive choice and draw on that experience when making decisions in the future.
GTSF serves school age children K thru 12th grade, referred by schools, social service agencies and other nonprofit organizations dedicated to assisting children in need.