Our Programs
Empowered associates and an engaged blend of valued business partners have contributed to the development of a number of multifaceted efforts, such as providing shoes, food and other necessities of life for children who would otherwise go without. Several Foundation programs aim to provide kids with the tools, supplies, and motivation to help them make the most of their education.
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Back(pack) to School
Back(pack) to School provides first grade students in need with a backpack full of with essential supplies, so they can begin the school year ready to learn. Donating these academic necessities to at-risk children also promotes and encourages attendance, while boosting self-confidence.
"The GSF Foundation is an extension of GSF Creed and Values into the areas where our associates live and work."
John Page, Corporate Senior Vice President, Chief Corporate Social Responsibility and Legal Officer​
Best Foot Forward
Best Foot Forward provides new shoes to children who cannot afford them, so students may participate in their schools’ physical education programs. Donating the right shoes for exercise activities at school, this program helps combat rapidly increasing obesity rates in at-risk children, which also leads to improved attitudes and greater self-esteem.
GSFF BIKE BUILD™
The GSFF BIKE BUILD™ program provides second- and third-grade school children in need with their own, and often very first, bicycle they build themselves under the guidance of a caring mentor. This program teaches fundamental life skills, such as goal setting, safety, the value of hard work to achieve goals, and the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle through physical activity.
Coats for Kids
Coats for Kids provides children in need with new, warm coats for winter. By donating warm coats for the winter season, this program ensures at-risk children stay warm and comfortable regardless of the temperature, which enables them to attend school regularly and helps build their self-confidence.
Focus on Food!
For kids who count on the school cafeteria for regular meals, summertime can bring heightened hunger and anxiety into their lives. Instead of having fun in the sun and taking an enjoyable break from the school year, many families struggle with tough trade-offs between food and other necessities in the challenging summer months. Community food banks provide a lifeline for children and families who may have nowhere else to turn.
Pedal to Perfection
The Pedal to Perfection program raises student attendance rates by rewarding elementary school children with a new bike at the end of the school year, if they achieve nearly perfect attendance. School attendance is crucial to realizing academic success, so this program encourages behaviors in at-risk children that foster the attainment of educational goals and aspirations.