At Access to Success, every partnership is a stepping stone toward empowering Nigerian youth. Today, we’re celebrating a partner who shares our vision and commitment to this future—Feetures.

Stepping in Where it Matters Most

For 10 years, Feetures has stepped in to ensure every person associated with A2S in Nigeria has access to quality footwear. Have you worn a pair of Feetures? They’re comfy, quality and last forever. In an environment where kids often have little access to quality, long-lasting footwear and often walk long distances due to lack of reliable transportation, this item is especially important.

Just as A2S started with shoes, our partnership with Feetures started with socks. As we’ve grown together, Feetures has shown their commitment to walking hand in hand alongside our youth by donating over 100,000 pairs of socks and sponsoring six Soulful Supper events.

This year, we’re excited to welcome them back to Soulful Supper for the seventh time as our Empower Sponsor. Through their generosity, we’ve been able to create sustainable programs for Nigerian youth, offering them a dignified path to a successful life.

Feetures’ support has touched a number of these programs including:

  • Empowering our After School Academy by providing socks in every child’s backpack each year at the beginning of the school year.
  • Enhancing our Entrepreneurship Empowerment Program during Feetures’ Founder and Chairman Hugh Gaither’s trip to Nigeria where he led a question and answer workshop for our entrepreneurs.
  • Educating our A2S Scholars as Mr. Gaither addressed our A2S scholars in a Leadership & Decision Making topic entitled “Developing Problem-Solving & Strategic Skills for Career Growth” during his time in Nigeria.
  • Engaging in our Community Empowerment Programs by supporting our goal to build strong communities and volunteering at our Basketball & Empowerment Camp and providing each of our campers in attendance Feetures socks in tandem with our A2S shoe donations. This combination offered our campers a true treasure- comfortable athletic wear that allowed them to learn and excel in a sport without discomfort or injury due to lack of these necessities. In addition to our BEC camp, Feetures donates socks to the IDP Camp (Internal Displacement Persons Camp) that A2S supports as well as other areas of identified need in the surrounding community.

Seeing the Mission Up Close

We were honored this spring by the visit of Feetures’ Founder & Chairman, Hugh Gaither, to Nigeria. His journey wasn’t just a testament to his commitment but also a heartfelt gesture of solidarity with our mission.

Hugh’s interactions with our youth and communities enriched both our worlds, forging deeper connections that reflect our shared dedication to compassionate service and empowerment.

Mr. Gaither has continued to act as an ambassador to A2S’s mission through participating and even speaking at a few of our events such as our inaugural golf tournament this year in May. As our guest speaker at this event, Mr. Gaither shared some key highlights from his Vision Trip experience and encouraged the participants to become involved in A2S’s work and future plans to open the OWA (Opportunity, Wellness & Advancement Center) in 2027.

Empowering Families Through Dignified Giving

In addition to their continuous support, Feetures has made a lasting impact through their contributions to the Overly Dignified Giving Center. The center is used primarily by our After School Academy kids and their families, but from time to time throughout the year, we also open it up to the community. Parents receive “A2S bucks” to shop for themselves and their children, and each item is marked with a specific monetary value that they use in exchange for their items just as they would in a typical retail environment.

The Overly Dignified Giving Center is set up like a beautiful store, stocked with clothing and shoes from several partner organizations. Prominently displayed is a Feetures’ shopping corner and Feetures’ signage where kids and adults can select pairs of socks in their sizes and colors of their choosing to exchange “A2S bucks” for the socks. Not surprisingly, Feetures socks are a very popular selection for the children, especially those keen to enjoy sports and other outside activities.

A Commitment to Fight Poverty & Create Pathways to Success

This year, Feetures took another step in their journey with us by becoming a Soulful Supper Empower Sponsor, their largest commitment to date. Their involvement in this event underscores not just financial support, but a profound belief in our mission. Together, we are creating a community where every child can envisage a dignified path to a successful life and the necessary tools to equip them to accomplish this goal.

As we look to the horizon, we are filled with gratitude for partners like Feetures. They exemplify what it means to foster growth and bring about meaningful change. Their support is a vital component of our success, and we are excited for the journey ahead. Let’s continue to work hand in hand to break the cycle of poverty and empower Nigerian youth.

We invite you to make an impact and become a part of the A2S Story too! By becoming a Soulful Supper sponsor or an A2S partner, you will play a meaningful role in shaping a hopeful future for Nigerian youth. Visit a2sfoundation.org to learn more and see how you can make a difference today or contact Laura Knight to explore sponsorship opportunities at laura@a2sfoundation.org.