Caption by Ashmar Mandou

Cheers reverberated throughout the walls of the Union League Boys and Girls Clubs/Club One in the Pilsen neighborhood on Tuesday afternoon as 600 pairs of trendy sneakers were gifted courtesy of Kickz for Kids billionaire philanthropist Patrick Carroll. “There’s no better feeling than seeing the kids’ faces filled with excitement when they get a new pair of really cool sneakers. They’re surprised and so happy at the same time. I don’t know of a more genuine and fulfilling experience than I could imagine. And as cliché as it sounds, the message I give the kids is, ‘If I can do it, anyone can do it.’ I am far from your typical success story. I got in some trouble growing up, didn’t go to college, and I’m basically self-taught. I think, especially these days, it’s important for the kids to understand the message, ‘Work hard for your dreams and you too can live the American dream.” Members of the Union League Boys and Girls Clubs were joined by celebrity guests including Vic Mensa and former Chicago Bear Matt Forte. Miami billionaire philanthropist Patrick Carroll continues his inspiring nationwide campaign to give away $1 million worth of sneakers throughout ten Boys and Girls clubs across the U.S. Chicago marks the 5th city in his quest; Union League Boys and Girls Clubs has been serving youth in neighborhoods here with the highest hardship index for over 100 years. The Union League Boys & Girls Clubs serve over 15,000 youth members at 21 well-equipped and professionally staffed inner-city Clubs that bring effective after-school programming to youth in communities including Humboldt Park, Pilsen, West Town, Bucktown, South Lawndale and Englewood as well as to youth in the Juvenile Detention Center and at an overnight camp in Kenosha County, Wisconsin. For more information, please visit www.ulbgc.org.

Photo Credit: Lawndale Bilingual News/Tony Diaz