Round Room, one of Verizon’s authorized retailers, partnered with nonprofits DREAM Alive and New Shoe Day to gift $375,000 worth of shoes and socks on Wednesday, Aug. 12.
According to a press release, each student and teacher received a pair of new balance shoes and socks for the upcoming school year.
“Operation Do Good is about much more than providing new shoes. It’s about showing students that an entire community believes in them,” said Courtney Kibble, executive director of Round Room Gives. “We believe the most meaningful impact happens when we combine giving with genuine human connection. By bringing our employees together alongside incredible partners like DREAM Alive and New Shoe Day, we’re helping students start the school year with confidence, encouragement, and a reminder that they have people cheering for them every step of the way.”
Operation Do Good builds on DREAM Alive’s recent mega grant, which allowed the nonprofit to expand its reach from three IPS middle schools to six. This expansion provided more students with the opportunity to benefit from the mentorship, leadership development, and life-enrichment opportunities that the nonprofit provides.
Nearly 3,000 students and teachers believed they were attending a DREAM Alive Back-to-School pep rally. Instead, they were welcomed into a special event built around connection, encouragement, and community before receiving new footwear for the upcoming school year.
The initiative was part of a company conference for The Cellular Connection (TCC), a subsidiary of Round Room, where time was carved out for employees to volunteer and participate in the giving.
“For many families, back-to-school season is stressful and there are many items that need to be budgeted for, including shoes,” Eric Müller, president and CEO of Dream Alive said. “The teachers and students of these six schools received an incredible surprise today, and it’s a great reminder of what a community is capable of when we all come together and support one another.”
Below is a list of the participating schools.
- Northwest Middle School
- Arlington Middle School
- Thomas Carr Howe Middle School
- H. W. Longfellow Middle School
- William Penn Middle School
Round Room is one of the largest Verizon-authorized retailers in the U.S. Its collective portfolio of brands includes TCC, Wireless Zone, and Culture of Good. The organization has more than 1,400 TCC and Wireless Zone retail locations across 43 states; Round Room has donated more than $11M to various causes through ongoing giveback initiatives. The company’s efforts have also been recognized through the Top Workplaces USA 2025 award and Top Workplaces Culture Excellence award.
For more information visit roundroom.com/our-impact/
Contact Staff Writer Malik Simon at 317-762-7847.
Malik Simon is a Staff Writer for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Memphis, TN, he graduated from Mississippi Valley State University with a Bachelor of Arts in General Studies concentrating on journalism. Before joining the Recorder, he wrote for the Devil’s Gazette newspaper at MVSU and served as a freelance content and video editor. He seeks to use media to help communities flourish through literacy and factual reporting.
