Nonprofit Sole Reason Expands to Manhattan, Kansas, Bringing More Sneakers and Smiles to Kids in Need

Sole Reason, a Topeka-based nonprofit dedicated to providing new sneakers to school-age children in need, officially launched its Manhattan program this summer in partnership with Boys & Girls Club of Manhattan (BGCM). The Aug. 1 launch event featured kid-friendly activities and a sneaker giveaway for BGCM members, marking the beginning of Sole Reason’s next chapter of impact.

Founded in 2016, Sole Reason has distributed almost 9,500 pairs of sneakers to children across the Topeka area. The organization’s expansion to Manhattan reflects its continued commitment to reaching underserved youth, ensuring that no child has to go without a quality pair of shoes.

“This expansion is both professional and personal for me,” said Sole Reason Founder and Executive Director Jerry Hudgins. “I’ve spent time in Manhattan over the years—visiting businesses, meeting with the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation and Boys & Girls Club and seeing the need with my own eyes. Just like in Topeka, there are kids there who go without something as simple and essential as shoes. Our mission is to change that, one sneaker and smile at a time.”

Sole Reason’s Manhattan expansion is being supported by community members and local businesses who recognize the power a new pair of shoes can have on a child’s confidence. The nonprofit is actively seeking additional support from Manhattan-area businesses and donors interested in helping supply new sneakers to local children.

As part of the organization’s model, all donations go directly toward purchasing new shoes for kids. Operating expenses are funded through Sole Reason’s annual Sneakers & Smiles Golf Tournament and a used footwear recycling program—initiatives the organization plans to introduce to Manhattan in the year ahead.

“I was excited to be part of the Manhattan launch event, and I’m even more eager to see the impact we make in the lives of kids across northeast Kansas in the years to come,” said Sole Reason Board of Directors member Taylor Prior.

To learn more about Sole Reason or to become a founding supporter of its Manhattan program, visit www.SoleReason.net or contact Jerry Hudgins at Sole_Reason@Yahoo.com.