The A&A All the Way Foundation, a nonprofit established by professional football players Aaron and Alvin Jones, made a generous donation for students at Sierra Vista and Myrtle Cooper elementaries providing them with new shoes, which were distributed at a special ceremony on April 18 at the schools.

The Jones family paid a surprise visit to the two schools where they gave more than 60 pairs of Adidas tennis shoes to enthusiastic and grateful students.

Chelsirae Walker, sister of Aaron and Alvin Jones, said that the family was happy to be able to give back to the community because their parents taught them that when you are blessed you should bless others.

“We give back from the heart and we love it, which is what our family is all about,” Walker said. “The kids were happy to have something new, so it was a great surprise.”

The foundation sent surveys to schools asking if there was a particular need for the students in their school.

Sierra Vista Elementary parent liaison Damaris Lopez completed the application that led to her school being selected for the shoe donation for students in grades pre-kindergarten through fifth.

“Our students were excited and very grateful for today,” Lopez said. “They were thrilled.”

Sierra Vista Elementary second-grade student Dylan Ovalle was grateful for the shoes.

“I was excited because it was unexpected and really nice,” Ovalle said.

Aiden Lopez, another second-grade student, liked his white and green shoes.

“This makes me feel happy,” Aiden Lopez said. “I’ve never received free shoes before.”

Belinda Calderon, counselor at Myrtle Cooper Elementary, said the donation was going to help with the social-emotional wellbeing of the students and allow them to focus on learning.

“Today is an exciting day,” Calderon said. “Seeing the needs of my students being met makes me feel really good because a new pair of shoes makes a huge difference in a child's life and can put a big smile on their faces.”

Stacie Rodriguez, a fourth-grade student at Myrtle Cooper Elementary, said she was happy to get new shoes.

“They’re going to help me run better because the ones I have right now kind of make my feet feel tired,” Rodriguez said. “I can’t wait to put them on and see how fast I can go.”

Another fourth-grade student at Myrtle Cooper Elementary, Ximena Rosales Garcia, said she really liked her new shoes, and she couldn’t wait to wear them to play basketball.

“It’s amazing to know that someone would be so generous and so caring that they actually decided to buy these shoes and give them out to kids,” Rosales Garcia said.

The A&A All the Way Foundation aims to provide children with basic needs so that they may have the opportunity to focus on reaching their full potential.

  Published June 10, 2022

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