Join us for S4:EP25 of the Sports Philanthropy Podcast as Ross Brodsky, Co-Founder of Sole Purpose, sits down with our host Roy Kessel to discuss Sole Purpose and his passion for sports and sneakers.
Ross is a 17-year-old native New Yorker with a passion for sports and sneakers. A senior at The Dwight School, he is a member of the Dwight Lions Basketball Varsity team and plays in competitive basketball tournaments outside of school. Since the age of 8, Ross has been volunteering his time to the Brotherhood Synagogue Homeless shelter program and The Good+ Foundation. He spends his summers as a sports counselor for The Dwight Summer Camp where he works with children ages 7-12. Ross is excited to take The Sole Purpose program to other high schools and colleges.
Sole Purpose is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on collecting, refurbishing, and donating new and gently used men’s, women’s, and children’s sneakers and socks to the homeless in New York City. Their mission is to provide a dependable pair of sneakers and socks to those experiencing homelessness in the U.S. They envision a future in which every person experiencing homelessness has a dependable pair of sneakers and socks to help them take the next step forward in their lives. Sole Purpose provides a comfortable pair of sneakers and socks to help prevent a variety of foot-related medical ailments and provide protection from the environment which results in an enhanced quality of life and improved self-confidence.
HIGHLIGHTS OF ROSS’S PODCAST
- 00:00 Introduction
- 00:42 Ross’s Interest in Sports
- 01:29 Favorite Sport
- 02:29 How Sole Purpose Started
- 04:58 First Steps
- 06:09 Cleaning & Refurbishing
- 08:16 Purpose Pack
- 10:28 Fixing Soles
- 11:15 Summer Plans
- 14:39 Donation Boxes
- 19:18 Future Plans with Collecting, Cleaning, and Storing
- 20:55 Plans on Growing Quickly
- 22:08 Co-Founder & Others Involved
- 23:14 Hardest Part So Far
- 25:00 Contact Information
- 25:51 SPN Bonus Question
- 26:50 Parting Words
SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS AND WEBSITE
- Website: Solepurposenyc.com
- Facebook: @Solepurposenyc
- Twitter: @Solepurposenyc
- Instagram: @Solepurposenyc
- LinkedIn: Ross Brodsky | LinkedIn
