Venture Capitalists Partner with Shoes That Fit to Empower Franklin Elementary School Students to Put Their Best Foot Forward

Partners at a Newport Beach Based Private Equity Firm Give Back to Southern California Community Through Generous Donation

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--()--Filipp Chebotarev and Polina Chebotareva, partners at Cambridge Companies SPG, a Newport Beach based strategic opportunity investment firm, have made a generous donation, in partnership with national non-profit Shoes That Fit, to provide over 400 new pairs of athletic shoes to students at Franklin Elementary School in Santa Ana. On the morning of December 20, Cambridge Companies SPG will launch the holiday vacation at Franklin Elementary School by gifting the entire student-body with a new pair of shoes, individually measured for each child, so all students can attend class in comfort and with dignity, better prepared to learn, play and thrive.

“We are honored to partner with Franklin Elementary and Shoes That Fit,” said Filipp Chebotarev, Managing Partner at Cambridge Companies SPG. “This is our third year being involved with Shoes That Fit and we've experienced first-hand how inspired, empowered and deserving the children that the organization serves are. We believe that these children, regardless of their socioeconomic status, deserve the chance to be future leaders in our community. With the right focus on education, a strong self-esteem and empowerment we hope to inspire positive long term change in the parts of the community where it is needed.”

“Shoes That Fit is an organization near and dear to our hearts, as Filipp and I as children experienced what it's like to only have one old pair of shoes and the embarrassment and insecurity that goes with this when we immigrated to the U.S. as children in 1993,” said Polina Chebotareva, Managing Partner at Cambridge Companies SPG. “We are so proud to partner with Shoes That Fit. These efforts help empower, build self-esteem, and effectively prepare these kids for future leadership positions and becoming highly productive members of our community.”

Shoes That Fit is a national, non-profit 501(c)3 organization based in Claremont, CA and the nation’s largest nonprofit provider of new athletic shoes to children in need. To date, the organization has provided over 1.8 million pairs of brand new shoes and other necessities to children across the country. Each child is measured for shoes that will uniquely fit them, as is the case at Franklin Elementary as a result of this partnership and donation.

“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with the Chebotarev family to benefit the students at Franklin Elementary this holiday season,” said Amy Fass, Executive Director of Shoes That Fit. “Tragically, one child out of every five lives in poverty in the U.S., and in California the rate is even higher. Far too many families have to make a choice between food and other basic necessities for their children, and shoes are one of the most expensive items for families to purchase. Children who wear shoes that do not fit or are falling apart experience embarrassment and shame. However, new shoes that fit can aid in school attendance, with fewer behavioral issues, and more interaction and participation with teachers and peers. We are so thankful to Filipp and Polina for providing to the students at Franklin Elementary School with something they really need to succeed.”

The team at Cambridge Companies SPG invests in highly skilled operators of disruptive category leading companies in the consumer sector. For more information on Cambridge Companies SPG please visit www.cambridgespg.com and for more information on Shoes That Fit, please visit www.shoesthatfit.org.

About Cambridge Companies SPG

Cambridge Companies SPG (“Special Projects Group”) is a highly respected strategic opportunity investment firm based in Newport Beach, CA. Cambridge Companies SPG turns opportunities into value by buying controlling and non-controlling interest in companies poised for growth. The firm focuses on retail, consumer packaged goods (CPG) as well as Food & Beverage. More information on Cambridge Companies SPG can be found on their website here.

ABOUT SHOES THAT FIT

Shoes That Fit is a is a national, non-profit 501(c)3 organization based in Claremont, CA and the nation’s largest nonprofit provider of new athletic shoes to children in need. Shoes That Fit tackles one of the most visible signs of povery in America by giving children in need new athletic shoes to attend school ith dignity and joy, prepared to learn, play and thrive. Shoes That Fit believes that EVERY child in the United States deserves at least one pair of shoes that fit to help them focus on school, fit in with their peers, participate in sports and play. The program is designed to improve a child's self-esteem. In 2016, Shoes That Fit programs delivered new athletic shoes to more than 100,000 children in nearly 2,000 schools throughout 46 states, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico, all from one office in Claremont, CA with just 7 staff members. Please join us in our efforts to make sure no child has to miss school because they don't have proper shoes. For more information, please visit www.shoesthatfit.org.

Contacts

For Cambridge Companies SPG
Elyssa Kanter
ekanter@konnectagency.com
www.konnectagency.com

Contacts

For Cambridge Companies SPG
Elyssa Kanter
ekanter@konnectagency.com
www.konnectagency.com