Stepping Up for Students: Gazelle Sports’ Gift to Wyoming Public Schools

On this year’s MLK Day, the Heart of West Michigan United Way team dispersed across the community to serve local agencies and continue the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. One team stopped by Wyoming Public Schools to deliver a special gift.

A treasured partner of United Way, Gazelle Sports, recognizes that shoes should never be a barrier for a person to join a team or perform their best, and each month, Gazelle Sports generously donates boxes of shoes that United Way distributes to local agencies and schools.

This month, their donation will impact the lives of nearly 300 students at Wyoming Junior High and Wyoming High School.

AFL-CIO Community Services Labor Liaison Dan TenHoopen and Account Manager Hannah Reynolds joined early Monday morning with a van full of boxes on the first snow day of the new year. With the help of their amazing Athletic Director Micheal Sturm, 297 pairs of athletic shoes were packed into the school’s hall.

“We appreciate this gesture very much! It will help out track, cross, and PE for sure,” said Sturm.

With the weather easing and school back in session, students helped to organize and sort this impactful donation with a couple of sports games right around the corner. We are proud to serve as a steward for our community’s needs, and we are excited for the journey ahead for our future community leaders at Wyoming Public Schools who can participate in opportunities without the barrier of paying for the appropriate shoes.

The impact of this donation – worth over $25,000 – was made possible because of the generosity and dedication of Gazelle Sports! We’re proud to say that because of partners like them, we are making our vision of a thriving community for all a reality. 

Thank you Gazelle Sports for being an ally for our community and creating opportunities for our youth!