Foot Locker & Fred Jordan Missions Send 4,000 Los Angeles Underprivleged Kids Back To School In Style

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 4,000 underprivileged children will receive brand new shoes, clothing and school supplies, thanks to a unique 26 year partnership between Foot Locker, a global athletic specialty retailer, and Fred Jordan Missions. Over the years, this partnership has supplied more than 130,000 children with new athletic shoes. Other generous companies and individuals provide clothing, backpacks, school supplies, haircuts and In-N-Out Burgers. This year's annual Giveaway will be held at the Fred Jordan Missions, located at 445 Towne Avenue, on Thursday, October 2nd, beginning at 9:00am. 

Terrence 'J' Jenkins, co-anchor of the news program E! and a former Foot Locker employee, will once again join Willie Jordan, President, Fred Jordan Missions to escort the first group of children into the Mission, which will be transformed into a giant Foot Locker store. "Giving back to the communities in which we serve has always been an important endeavor.  Terrence has been a part of the Foot Locker family since his time working in our store in Rocky Mount, NC and we are so proud to have him join us again," said Jed Berger, VP Brand Marketing, Foot Locker.

On the morning of October 2^nd, dozens of Foot Locker associates, dressed in their trademark black and white striped uniforms, will custom-fit each child with new shoes. Volunteers from the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, corporations, churches and schools will escort each child to tables piled high with gifts of new school clothes, backpacks, school supplies and hygiene kits.  By the time they leave, the kids will have huge bags filled with goodies. To top it all off, In-N-Out will bring their signature red and white food trucks to serve the children and their parents a delicious burger hot-off-the-grill, followed by a visit to Paul Mitchell's tent, where stylists will cut and style each child's hair.  

"Children throughout Los Angeles look forward to this day all year," said Willie Jordan, President of Fred Jordan Missions. "I was born at the end of the Great Depression, and I still remember going to school without shoes, in spite of the fact that both my parents worked. I will never forget the embarrassment, humiliation and shame I felt for not having shoes to wear.  When I grew up, I was determined that I would dedicate my life to help children avoid that same humiliation, and give them the basic tools they need to succeed in life.  I am deeply grateful to Foot Locker for their 26 years of partnership with the Mission, sending well over 130,000 impoverished American children back to school with new athletic shoes and socks!"

The Fred Jordan Missions, open 365 days a year since 1944, feeds hundreds of hungry people and provides assistance to impoverished individuals and families.  The Mission is a non-profit, faith-based, educational and relief organization that focuses on education, job training, and self-reliance.  

Foot Locker, Inc. Foot Locker, Inc., operates approximately 3,500 athletic specialty retail stores in 23 countries in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.  Through its Foot Locker, Footaction, Lady Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, Champs Sports, SIX:02, Runners Point, and Sidestep retail stores, as well as its direct-to-customer channels footlocker.com, Eastbay.com, CCS.com, SIX:02.com, runnerspoint.com, and sidestep-shoes.com, the Company is the leading provider of athletic footwear and apparel.

Other sponsors include: In-N-Out Burger, Paul Mitchell Schools, Shelter Partnership; Vera R. Campbell, Knit Works, John Paul Mitchell Hair Care, USC School of Dentistry, Shelter Partnership

Los Angeles Breakfast Club, Eisner Pediatric & Family Medical Center, Merrill Lynch, Starbucks and Phillips Lerner, a Law Corporation. Other sponsors include: In-N-Out Burger; Paul Mitchell Schools, Shelter Partnership; Vera R. Campbell, Knit Works, John Paul Mitchell Hair Care, USC School of Dentistry, Shelter Partnership, Los Angeles Breakfast Club, Eisner Pediatric & Family Medical Center, Merrill Lynch, Starbucks and Phillips Lerner, a Law Cooperation.

SOURCE The Fred Jordan Mission