ABOUT
Kicks 4 Kids was created with a simple thought: all kids should have a pair of shoes they can wear safely and confidently to attend school and shouldn't be restricted from participating in sports because of their shoes.
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We may think our local communities don't have these issues in a first world country, but they exist and families are being adversely affected because of it. There are stories of students not attending school because they have to share shoes with their siblings, to students not being able to try out for their school sports teams because they don't have the proper shoes.
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Kicks 4 Kids aims to address this growing issue in our communities by providing new, unworn shoes to students throughout the region by working with local schools and programs. Kicks 4 Kids is a 501(c)(3) non profit and is made up of a group of volunteers who are passionate about making positive impacts in young people's lives.
Our Vision is that all kids in the greater Los Angeles area have at least one pair of shoes they can safely and comfortably wear, leaving one less barrier to their future success.
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Kick 4 Kids' Mission is to provide new, unworn shoes to kids in need by providing opportunities for companies, organizations, and individuals to support our most vulnerable communities.
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MEET THE TEAM
All Board Members are 100% Volunteers
Ruwanka Purasinghe
Founder/CEO
Ruwanka Purasinghe is a passionate sneakerhead at heart, and has has always believed in giving back to the next generation. From his volunteer work with the American Society of Civil Engineers K-12 Outreach for STEM education, to volunteering as a Big Brother Mentor, Ruwanka seeks to actively be a positive influence in young people'e lives. Combining sneakers and community service was inevitable for Ruwanka, especially after learning about hardships students go through in the LA area. Ruwanka sought to create a non profit that could bring positives to the those in need and the sneaker community, and is excited to see how many lives Kicks 4 Kids can change.
Erik Polyak
Treasurer
Erik was born in raised in Northern California, where he studied economics and political science before catching the political bug and packing all his possessions in his car to move across the county to work on his first Congressional race. Erik is currently the Director of Campaigns at 314 Action, a grassroots organization dedicated to recruiting, training and electing scientists to all levels of public office. Erik currently lives in Washington, DC, but will always be a Californian at heart and does his best to get outside the beltway as much as possible. Erik currently rotates between 6 different pairs of New Balances (not the white gym shoes) on casual days, and can definitely appreciate the importance of a good sneaker. Erik is excited to work with Kicks for Kids to help give back to Californians in need in a unique way that will help these kids ultimately gain more self confidence which will help them be more successful in school and the rest of their lives.
John Nguyen
Secretary
John Nguyen is a professional engineer for the City of Los Angeles who believes in the importance of developing our next generation of youth. He has a bachelors of science in civil engineering from California State University, Long Beach, and is pursuing his Executive MBA at Wharton San Francisco. Before starting his professional career, John spent six years as a teacher and event assistant for kids from first to six graders at a non-profit organization in Irvine, CA. John believes shoes are symbolic of the foundation a person stands on. Having kids on a strong foundation is critical to building character and leadership. John is a big proponent of mentorship and community. The sneaker community also provides focus on great role models because the shoes are designed and sponsored by hard working athletes and professional artists. John wants to support the efforts to encourage and instill life skills in kids who can’t afford new shoes to have a strong foundation.
Chloe Gharios
Director of Corporate Events
Chloe Gharios is a Civil Engineer for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. She studied Civil Engineering at California State University, Fullerton, and is currently studying at night at the University of Southern California for a Masters degree in Engineering Management. Chloe grew up in Long Beach, California and feels very fortunate to grow up in a home in which she was always provided what she needed. However, she grew up around a lot of kids who were not as fortunate. One thing Chloe remembers vividly is a kid whom she went to middle school with. They made it onto the basketball team together, but the other girl only had a pair of converses being held together by duct tape. The coach told her it was unsafe to play in shoes like that, and she ended up quitting. Who knows what a simple pair of shoes could have done for her... kept her out of gangs, maybe a college scholarship... who knows. That is why Chloe is passionate about this effort.
Eddie Lopez
Director of Community Outreach
Eddie is a LA native who is passionate about helping his community. As an Operations Coordinator for Tesla, Eddie is responsible for making sure things run smoothly and efficiently, and hopes to bring that to the volunteer experience at Kicks 4 Kids. Eddie has witnessed first hand families throughout the LA area who cannot afford shoes for their toddlers, and has purchased numerous kids shoes out of his own pocket. Eddie hopes to provide a rewarding experience for everyone who supports Kicks 4 Kids and hopes to supply new shoes to as many kids in need as possible.
Marlene Lopez
Director of Educational Outreach
Marlene is an LA native, who has been giving back to the LA community for the past eight years, through education. Marlene has worked with children and their families, ranging from expecting mothers to preschoolers, across diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. She has had the privilege to work with children in the classroom, as a teacher, and currently works closely with parents and their children in their homes to provide families with the opportunity to learn and grow together. Marlene knows all about the hurdles many families face, and understands the need for new shoes for children around LA. Marlene is passionate about helping families and their children be successful, and She hopes to connect with and strengthen the relationship between Kicks4kidsla, local LA schools, families with children, and the community, in an effort to provide kids with the opportunity to receive shoes that would help them reach their goals
Matthew Cristi
Director of Corporate Management
Matthew Cristi is an incoming graduate student at Stanford University pursuing a Master of Science in Structural Engineering. He graduate from California State University, Northridge with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and led the American Society of Civil Engineers Student Chapter as President. Matthew enjoys serving others in the Greater Los Angeles community as he volunteers at Children's Hospital Los Angeles and Midnight Mission in Skid Row. Matthew's goal is to help kids from low-income families build confidence and achieve greatness. He knows that Kicks 4 Kids is a non-profit organization that shares the same mission of being selfless and helping others.
Michael Richardson
General Counsel
Michael is a Socal-native, growing up in Orange County, and now practices law in Sacramento, CA. Michael enjoys spending his time giving back to his community and participates in several charity events throughout the year. Michael grew up playing Football and understands the importance of having the right gear and footwear to be able to play sports successfully. Michael hopes to aid Kicks 4 Kids in its day to day operations so that it can reach its goals.
Sariah Perera
Director of Student Engagement
Sariah Perera is a youth activist who is passionate about helping her community and spreading awareness on global issues. As a current High School Student, Sariah brings valuable perspective and a voice for students to the Kicks 4 Kids organization. Sariah has interned for Congresswoman Judy Chu's office, served as President of the Global Awareness Club, and is an avid Speech & Debate competitor, competing on the state level each year in high school. As a daughter of immigrants, she is surrounded by the ideals of hard work and the assimilation into American culture; especially the sneaker culture. Understanding the importance in something that may seem as small as a pair of shoes, her love and interest into sneakers only represent her love for the cause that is this organization.
Sean Johnson
Graphic Design
Sean is an LA Native now enjoying the desert life in Phoenix, AZ. Sean is a gifted artist, who amongst other things, designed the Kicks 4 Kids logo and helps brand the non-profit. Sean is excited to help the youth achieve their goals and reach their potential, and knows how important a good pair of shoes can be for a child.