Charlie Villanueva of the Detroit Pistons is a shining example of a player who shines both on and off the court. Charlie’s “Tenis Para Niños” program, through a partnership with Crocs and Feed The Children, has distributed over 30,000 pairs of Crocs footwear to impoverished children in the Dominican Republic.
“As a professional athlete…you have to…be a good role model and help others,” Charlie has said. Inspired by his parents who were born in the Dominican Republic, Charlie works to distribute shoes to children in schools and orphanages because “I was in their shoes at one point.”
Shoe donations might seem like a small thing, but in a country where 42% of the population lives in poverty, they represent progress, self-sufficiency, and a future. Shoes prevent exposure to harmful bacteria and illness and protect feet from the elements, but they also have an added benefit: self-esteem. Children with shoes can go much further than children without shoes—literally and figuratively.
Thanks to our partnership with Charlie, his Tenis Para Niños program, and Crocs, Feed The Children isn’t just feeding children, we’re improving health and quality of life.



