Play Passion Project
What Started as a shoe drive, now has turned into a Global Initiative
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***(As of January 2026)***
Our Journey
It started in a closet. Rami went looking for shoes he didn't wear anymore and found 32 pairs just sitting there. He looked into donating them and found that most donation bins around him were run for profit. The shoes wouldn't go to someone who needed them. They'd go to a resale pipeline. That gap between what people intend to give and where it actually ends up is what started Play Passion Project.
The first shoe drive followed soon after. In three weeks, it brought in 1,500 pairs, far more than anyone expected from a first attempt. That early success exposed the same problem at a larger scale. Donors wanted their shoes to help someone. Too often, the systems in place didn't get them there. So the drives expanded, not just to collect more shoes, but to build a direct line between the person giving and the person receiving. Within the first 12 months, that expansion moved 40,000 pairs.
But somewhere during that period, there was a moment that would last with us forever.
A kindergartener named Gilbert donated his favorite pair of shoes: dinosaur boots. Those boots eventually made their way to Christopher, a boy in Guatemala. Two kids who never met each other, connected by one pair of shoes and one kid's decision to give what he had.
That moment shaped what came next. It became clear that the people best equipped to carry this work forward were young people themselves, kids who understood giving the way Gilbert did. That's how the Youth Empowerment Program started. Today, YEP has empowered 455 students across 4 states, training the next generation of organizers to run drives, manage logistics, and lead their own communities.
Play Passion Project shows up at community events with organizations like the NYPD, and works alongside the Staten Island Giving Circle, Seaman's Society, Soles4Souls, Safe Horizon, and a growing list of nonprofits and schools across our community and around the world. That work has been recognized publicly, including a Congressional Gold Medal and a feature as NY1's New Yorker of the Week.
Play Passion Project's mission is simple: give shoes to people in need, while empowering the younger generation to make that change happen. Since that closet and those 32 pairs, we've moved 80,000 pairs of shoes into the hands of people who needed them. Together, we will change the world, one pair at a time.
Media & Recognition
ABC7NY
We are honored to have been featured on ABC7NY for our distribution at PS 74, shining a spotlight on the impact of our work within the community.
From serving families locally to leading life-changing distributions abroad, our organization is driven by one mission: to show up where help is needed most. The ABC7NY feature recognized not just a single event, but the growing movement behind our work that is powered by dedicated volunteers, strong partnerships, and a belief that service can change lives.
Click the button to see the article and special video of the event by ABC7!
New York 1 New Yorker of the Week
We are deeply honored to be recognized by NY1 as New Yorker of the Week, an accolade that celebrates individuals and organizations making a meaningful difference across the city.
This recognition reflects the heart of our mission: serving communities with purpose, compassion, and action. To be named New Yorker of the Week is not just an honor, but a reminder that community-driven service has the power to inspire change far beyond a single moment or place.
We are grateful for this recognition and energized to continue expanding our impact, uplifting lives in New York and beyond.
Click the button to see the article and special video of the event by NY1!
Congressional Gold Medal
We want to thank the Staten Island Advance for covering this milestone. This recognition would not have been possible without the community that has stood behind Play Passion Project from the very beginning, and it stands as a reflection of everything this team has built together, one drive, one pair, one relationship at a time.
Staten Island Advance
The Staten Island Advance first captured our journey in March 2025, documenting our very first event and the beginning of our mission to serve the community. Since then, our impact has grown, and they returned to showcase just how far we’ve come during our recent distribution at PS 74.
From our first steps to serving hundreds locally and expanding our work abroad, this feature reflects the progress, perseverance, and passion behind our organization. It’s a powerful reminder that meaningful change starts small and grows through commitment, service, and heart.
South Shore Rotary
We’re incredibly grateful to be featured on the South Shore Rotary TV Show and to work alongside such an inspiring group of community leaders. We’re especially thankful to the South Shore Rotary for hosting a shoe drive in support of Play Passion Project and helping us get quality footwear to those who need it most. Seeing our mission embraced by the Rotary and the local community motivates us even more to keep growing our impact. We’re excited to continue this partnership and build even more opportunities to serve together.
Around the Island
We’re grateful to be featured on Around the Island and to share the mission of Play Passion Project with the community. Thank you for helping us spread awareness about the importance of access to proper footwear and the impact it can make. We appreciate the support and look forward to continuing to grow our reach together.
(Last 15 min!)