1,000 Pairs of Shoes Donated to YMCA Kids

Orange Bowl makes donation as part of Kicks for Kids campaign

Their tiny feet are making a big impression.

Sixty kids from the YMCA in Allapatah kicked off their kicks and smothered their feet in paint to create an Orange Bowl "Kicks for Kids" mural.

"It was artistic for me and very exciting," Mariangel Benitez said.

The project will be more like dancing with paint, said artist Andrea Preston.

After they wiped off the mess, the kids tried on new Nikes.

"Allapattah is a very underprivileged area and the majority of our children have never owned a new pair of name brand sneakers," said Preschool Executive Director Jamilet Diaz.

The Orange Bowl donated 1,000 pairs of mostly new sneakers to the YMCA of Greater Miami Wednesday.

"If you keep kids active, keep them on teams, keep them disciplined, keep them around mentors and coaches, we think their likelihood of success is a lot greater than not being here," said Orange Bowl Community Outreach Chair Wayne Schuchts.

The Orange Bowl, a nonprofit sports organization, collected shoes at drop-off locations in South Florida over five months and bought new shoes with donated funds.

"It will help me by running," Stephanie Roman said of her new kicks.

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