Big Shoe raises $26,000 more for homeless kids

A really big thanks to everyone who played a role in Entertainment Explosion’s A Really Big Shoe 11 benefit concert for homeless kids on March 12 at the Washington Center. Together we raised another $26,100, for a total of $276,000 in 11 years.

In April, we distributed $2,900 checks each to the homeless student funds in the Olympia, Tumwater, Shelton, North Thurston, Yelm, Rainier, Rochester and Tenino school districts, and to Community Youth Services.

The money is used to help over 2,000 homeless kids in the school districts, and over 6,000 served by CYS, to pay for shoes, clothes, food, shelter, restroom and showers and campground fees, school and band and sports and graduation fees, special classes, and whatever they deem appropriate for these kids who basically have nothing. Kudos go to all our the Big Shoe sponsors, in-kind supporters, audience members, school boards and administrators, media partners including the Olympian, staff of the Washington Center, and everyone who performed on stage and helped back stage and in the lobby. What a fabulous overall community event and effort.

Next up: Feb. 25, 2018, EE will host a two-hour A Really Big Shoe 12 starring folk-singing legends The Brothers Four. Tickets go on sale in mid-summer at the Washington Center.

This story was originally published May 13, 2017 at 7:00 PM with the headline "Big Shoe raises $26,000 more for homeless kids."