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Buccaneers Lace It Up For Kids

Aug 30, 2009 - As each new school year begins, parents of young students hope their kids start out on the right foot. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers helped 80 local youngsters do just that this year on the first week of classes for many Bay area families.

Last Wednesday, the Buccaneers’ inaugural "Lace It Up For Kids" event brought together children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay and the Sulphur Springs Boy Scouts and members of their favorite NFL team for an afternoon of shoe shopping. Linebacker Quincy Black, running back Clifton Smith, Buccaneers Cheerleaders and team mascot Captain Fear gathered at a local retail store to help 80 disadvantaged youth select brand new shoes purchased by the Buccaneers.

“We think this is a wonderful opportunity for our organization, for our kids, for our families, especially at this time at the beginning of school, needing school supplies and that sort of thing,” said Todd Cole of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay. “It’s a great help to many of our families to be able to give these shoes for the kids as well as the gift cards for many of the other kids who couldn’t make it today.”

“Lace It Up For Kids” was created to provide local children with a much needed item — a new pair of shoes — at a critical time of the year. Following Wednesday’s shoe giveaway, more than 400 additional youth throughout Tampa Bay were provided gift cards from the Buccaneers to help pay for a brand new pair of shoes.

“They’re excited to be here — it’s picking out shoes, it’s cool,” said Black. “Free shoes? I mean you’ve got kids trying to get four or five pair, but they are excited and happy about the opportunity. Back to school, the first three days of school you want to put together your best outfits and you’re excited to be back in school. It’s about being around your peers and having fun and being kids.”

Andrew Wilson, a 12-year old from Van Buren Middle School in Tampa, was excited when he learned that the Buccaneers were going to buy him a new pair of shoes.

"The Buccaneers’ heart is in the right place because there are definitely children who start out the new year without certain things they need every year. They need school supplies, they need book bags, they need uniforms and they need shoes; kids need these things. It’s a great idea"

“I thought it was probably going to be a lot of fun because I get to pick my own shoes,“ he said.

What Wilson did not expect was shopping help from some of the Buccaneers’ most recognizable personalities.

“This was fun, I got some nice shoes and I’ve seen all the cheerleaders and the Tampa Bay football players,” said the proud new owner of a pair of Airwalks.

Smith, who experienced a similar act of generosity during his youth, expressed the personal connection he felt with the children in attendance.

“I remember when I was about their age, I had the same opportunity to go to my community and get some shoes that a professional athlete purchased for us at the Boys & Girls Clubs,” the running back said. “So it’s just great for me to come out and help do the same thing and just see how the tables have turned.”

The Buccaneers footed the bill for the shoes but the presence of the players helped make the experience particularly exciting for the visiting kids.

“I think this is wonderful for them to take time out of their busy schedules to come out and spend some time with kids from the communities in which we serve that don’t often get an opportunity to meet the cheerleaders and meet the players,” said Cole. “They see them on TV, but this is a wonderful opportunity for them to be able to touch them, ask questions and joke around with them, so it really brings it home.”

Before turning their focus towards the team’s 2009 return to Raymond James Stadium — a preseason contest the next night versus the visiting Miami Dolphins — Black and Smith were more concerned with making sure that the children started off their year on a high note.

“I think it’s an awesome program,” noted Black. “I know the Buccaneers’ heart is in the right place because there are definitely children who start out the new year without certain things they need every year. They need school supplies, they need book bags, they need uniforms and they need shoes; kids need these things. It’s a great idea.”

Added Smith: “Just to let them come out and have fun and watch them smile, that’s the biggest thing that I come out here for. Just to enjoy this and see the smiles on children’s faces.”

Earl Silas, a troop leader for the Boy Scouts of Sulphur Springs, couldn’t have agreed more.

“I think programs and events like this show the kids that you’ve got organizations and agencies in the community that really care about these kids, so they’re spending all these dollars making sure these kids are ready to go back to school.”

“It makes them smile from ear to ear.”