April 9, 2010 – Burlingame, California – The idea started with a story from a mother to her daughter. This story planted the seed of thought that you can make a difference one person at a time. My New Red Shoes is a way that Heather Hopkins decided to make a change in her city.

Over 5,000 Bay Area school-aged children experience homelessness every night. The average age of these children is only 5 years old. Homelessness has a devastating effect on a child’s education. Homeless children are twice as likely to repeat a grade in school and are significantly more likely not to finish high school.

My New Red Shoes was founded in 2006 by Heather Hopkins after hearing a story from her mother that changed Heather’s life. Growing up in a poor family, Heather’s mother dreaded the first day of school, so worried was she that she wouldn’t have anything presentable to wear when she walked through her classroom doors come September. Her mother’s story made a strong impression on Heather and motivated Heather to help change the story for other children.

My New Red Shoes helps homeless children put their best foot forward at school through two unique programs. Clothing for Confidence provides homeless and very low-income children with $50 gift cards to major clothing retailers and brand new shoes, offering them the opportunity to celebrate back-to-school season with pride in a way that the isolation of second-hand clothing closets never will. Providing clothing and shoes to homeless youth not only increases their school attendance, it gives them a much-needed confidence boost. The Kids Helping Kids Youth Leadership Program educates students about local family homelessness and empowers them to become positive change agents, directly and positively impacting their community. Kids Helping Kids utilizes the service learning model to offer tailor-made curriculum, philanthropic opportunities, engagement in civic matters, and helps students directly solve real-world issues in the homeless community.

Each year My New Red Shoes hosts a Community Walkathon and Family Festival to Support Homeless Children.  This year ShuBee has allied with My New Red Shoes by donating 450 red shoe covers for the participants to wear during their walk through the streets of downtown Burlingame. When asked about the benefit of the walk and the partnership with ShuBee, Mayer stated “The walk creates awareness. The partnership helps us become more visible and educate people on the reality of homelessness. When people think of homelessness, they think of an older man or woman out on the streets, what they don’t know is that the average age of a homeless person in 9 years old.”

ShuBee’s Chief Executive Officer, Randy Bennett, is very proud to help out this cause, “It is so unfortunate that children should have to experience homelessness, they have no control over their situation. We should all try and provide these children with the opportunities we have been given.”

Since 2006, My New Red Shoes has clothed over 4,600 homeless children and empowered over 1,500 youth to support their homeless peers. In 2010, they plan to clothe an additional 3,000 children and will continue to expand their education programs. “It’s very important this year with the economy the way it is for us to do as much as we possibly can. And through community support and sponsors we are in a position to reach out to more children,” Mayer stated.

My New Red Shoes believes in the ripple effect that a heartfelt gift can make in the life of a child who is feeling alone in her circumstances and has faith in the power of children to change the world. Planting the seed of compassion is the first step toward creating community change.

For more information about My New Red Shoes and volunteer opportunities, or to make a donation, please call (650) 241-3911 or visit www.mynewredshoes.org

For more information on ShuBee, please call (877)974-8233 or visit us at www.ShuBee.com