We Give Back
Sometimes the strongest message you can send is not in what you say about yourself, but in what you do. Here at Christopher Foltz & Company, we are committed to partnering our clients with charitable organizations. Not only is this the socially responsible thing to do, but partnering with charities is crucial in communicating your business’s commitment to community. Christopher Foltz & Company’s philanthropic partnerships help to support our clients while aiding a worthy cause.
We realize that our most significant contribution in business is to create profitable models for each and every client we work with, but the most important thing we can do for our community and the world is taking our client’s success and recognizing the importance of giving back. As we develop these programs for our clients not only does it feel good but ironically it works great.
We are working with medicine, the environment, children, and the world to continually support major causes and those less fortunate.
Our Charity Partners:
What if you could change the world? Would you?
“Over 1.25 million pairs of shoes delivered in 12 years”
In 1999, Mona Purdy traveled through Central America, and saw children painting tar on the soles of their bare feet so they could run a race during their village’s festival. She happened to meet an American orthopedic surgeon who was visiting the village. He told Mona that if these children had shoes to wear, there would be a lot less need for him to regularly travel to the region to perform amputations of children’s infected limbs. It was really very simple.
When Mona got home, she thought it would be a good idea to go around to some neighborhood schools and ask families to donate any used children’s shoes they might have. She collected some and brought them to an orphanage in Honduras. She figured she’d done a good deed and that her work was done. When she was about to leave, one of the workers at the orphanage asked,”When are you coming back?” Coming back? I’m not coming back. This was a one-time thing…
The question changed Mona’s life.
Soon, more schools became involved. Word traveled. Church groups. Scout troops. Civic organizations. The shoe drives began to attract attention. First newspapers. Then, radio. Television. The shoes began pouring in from all over the country, filling Mona’s garage, basement, and driveway. Thousands and thousands of pairs. It soon became clear that the Share Your Soles movement was spreading faster than Mona could have ever imagined. Before long, Mona faced some critical decisions. Shoes would go to the most desperately needy people she could possibly reach. That meant enlisting the aid of shippers and airlines. Government agencies. Embassies. Small businesses. Government officials. Consulates. Major corporations. Shoes were to be given in a way that respected and honored the dignity of those who would receive them. Sanitized with hot water and bleach. Polished. Sorted. Those with holes, tears, excessive wear? Discarded. Every person who received a pair of shoes would get shoes that were clean and in good condition. They would not receive garbage.
Since then, Share Your Soles has brought over 1.25 million of pairs of shoes to desperately impoverished people throughout the world. Central America. Southeast Asia. The Caribbean. Appalachia. Africa. Eastern Europe. American Indian Reservations. India. Ecuador. Peru. Haiti. Sri Lanka. Uganda. Cameroon. Nicaragua. Tanzania and Ghana. No boundaries. No borders.
Share Your Soles is not a political organization. We have no religious affiliation. We do not claim to know the causes of poverty throughout the world. We only know it exists, and we do what we can to help.
For Our Retired NFL Legends
The Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund is a non-profit, 501(c) (3) corporation, established to provide financial assistance and coordinate social services to dire need retired NFL players who are pioneers of the game and have greatly contributed to the NFL’s status as the most popular sport in America.
The Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund provides hands-on assistance and financial aid to help retired NFL players deal with some of the hardships they may encounter after football. Many of these players lack funds, disability coverage or pension benefits. Thus the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund focuses on the humanitarian side of these players, treating them with dignity, and addressing the post-football related issues in their lives.
The Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund Board of Directors includes Mike Ditka, Gale Sayers, Marv Levy, Greg Brown of Motorola and Jimmy Johnson. There is also an advisory committee that includes Shayne Graham, Jason Kyle, Josh Miller, Chris Jacke, Frank Winters, Jim Andrews, Tom Cundy, Jim Marshall, and Joe DeLamielleure.
The Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund Board is also supported by a large and prominent group of over 150 retired NFL players and coaches who participate in events and initiatives with the Board and the Gridiron Greats to raise awareness and monies to benefit the needs of their former teammates.
The offices of the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund are located in Northbrook, Illinois, a northern suburb of Chicago. Contact us at info@gridirongreats.org to learn more about the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund and ways to support the efforts of the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund.
Gridiron Greats Need
Many NFL players who helped build, shape, and mold the NFL into what it is today, are paying the price physically, mentally, and emotionally from their on-the-field efforts as an NFL player.
And some retired players, who played in past NFL eras, have not benefited from some of the benefits and pensions of the modern era. Hence, they lack adequate disability, rehabilitation, health insurance and retirement programs to allow for, and maintain a quality of life and financial security for themselves and their families.
Today, as a retired NFL player, many players find themselves with physical limitations, medical issues or other hardships. Many older retired players are unable and cannot cover the medical and other expenses needed for the treatment of the effects of their football related injuries.
Many of these players are not covered, or adequately covered, by the NFL pension or the NFLPA benefits. They are faced with the insurmountable costs and have no where to go for help.
And yes, some of these older players, who have given so much to the game during their NFL careers, often feel embarrassed by their predicament, become hopeless, living in loneliness and isolation, desperate for help.
If you are a retired NFL player, or if you know of former player in need of Gridiron Greats support, contact the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund offices atinfo@gridirongreats.org
Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund
The Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund raises money to be immediately dispersed to retired NFL players, while also funding the Gridiron Greats programs and services. Donations are tax deductible. The Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund is registered as a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) corporation with the Internal Revenue Service, a copy of that document is available on request.
The Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund has been established to help retired NFL players with one-time and/or on-going services and/or financial aid.
The idea for the Gridiron Greats started over 5 years ago…because of a stolen Super Bowl ring. Jerry Kramer, NFL Hall of Fame lineman for the Green Bay Packers, had his Super Bowl I championship ring stolen. He subsequently had a replica ring produced. He later discovered his original ring was being auctioned on-line. The auction company, Mastros Auctions, returned the original Super Bowl I ring to Kramer. In return, Kramer gave his replica ring to Mastros Auctions where $22,000 was raised. Kramer founded Gridiron Greats and the $22,000 became the initial capital for the organization.
The Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund is supported through numerous donations and fundraising activities throughout the year including special events, auctions of memorabilia, autograph events, corporate and public donation drives, sponsorships and special Super Bowl related events.
Retired players may apply for temporary assistance for medical costs as well as some of the basic necessities of life including, but not limited to, food, housing, transportation, clothing and other basic needs.
In addition to financial support, Gridiron Greats also assists with the coordination and resourcing of other types of assistance that may be available through a variety of different agencies and social services. Efforts are also made to secure “pro bono” medical care, medications, and other needs specific to the player.
Gridiron Greats Mission Statement
“The Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund’s mission is to assist retired NFL players, who are in dire health and financial distress by providing a means to regain a semblance of dignity and quality of life that every human being deserves. The Fund will support grant applicants through a series of conventional and non conventional fund raising efforts while calling attention to those in need through partnership programs, licensing efforts and public relations events with the set goal of expanding the Funds assets through partnerships with the National Football League and the National Football League Players Association and Alumni”.
The Board of Directors
Mike Ditka – Chairman of the Board
Matt Birk
Marv Levy
Kyle Turley
Gale Sayers
Helping Uninsured Get Surgery…Are You?
In a time of economic uncertainty and legislative reform, far too many individuals and families are unsafely living without insurance. Basic care, quality of life treatment and surgical procedures remain out of reach for thousands who are in desperate need of such aide. Project HUGS (Helping Uninsured Get Surgery) is a no cost surgery program serving individuals who are seeking costly yet necessary procedures, but are uninsured.
Currently, someone dies every 24 minutes because they are uninsured, and nearly 50% of the American population has either government subsidized health plan or no form of insurance at all. An even larger percentage of Chicago residents are facing this issue with nearly 26% of the city’s population completely uninsured and an ever increasing amount of public aid applicants. Project HUGS will provide and fund much needed surgical procedures to Chicago residents who would otherwise be unable to receive such care.
Changing the lives of the families of critically ill children
Normal Moments, Inc. is devoted to supporting parents with critically ill children in the home, in the hospital, and via web resources so that they can spend as much time as possible sharing the most normal moments possible with their children.
