Kristina Radnoti, a 2003 Legacy Award winner from Thousand Oaks, Calif., is a scholarship recipient who has put her heart and “sole” into serving her community.

In February 2002, Kristina founded Sole Purpose, an organization dedicated to providing footwear to families in need. Kristina's inspiration came after watching a CN report in late 2001 about the plight of shoeless Afghan solderis fighting against the Taliban. Originally inspired to help collect shoes for the soliders, Kristina soon realized the difficulties posed in delivering shoes to Afghanistan and instead focused her efforts on her local community. After careful research, she discovered that there were more than 4,000 homeless people in her county alone.

Kristina has drop-off bins at local running stores, races, and fire and police stations throughout her community for people to donate old running shoes. To date, Kristina and her local “shoe crews” have collected and donated more than 4,000 pairs of shoes to local shelters and families.

Kristina has been recognized by the Los Angeles Times, Runner’s World Magazine, and appeared on the John Walsh Show in January to receive the Hometown Hero Award for making a difference in her community.

“The recognition is great,"Kristina explains, "but no recognition has been greater than from those who I have helped. Brooklyn, a 3-year old at an area shelter, is the Sole Purpose imprint on my heart. Seeing her with her new shoes touched me. This is the connection that keeps me going. Knowing that I am able to help others makes me a proud citizen and human being.”

Many people have been touched by Kristina’s charity and commitment. Sole Purpose chapters are starting up in 25 cities in the US and Canada. Kristina has recently partnered with Clif Bar Corporation to collect shoes at area sporting events.

In addition to her busy schedule with school and Sole Purpose, Kristina is considering a major in aerospace engineering or biotechnology when she attends college next fall. “Whatever profession I choose, it will be a profession that helps our society be a better place. My involvement in starting Sole Purpose has made me very aware of the needs of others and the importance of making a contribution with my life in the career I choose.”

For more information on Sole Purpose, visit www.solepurpose.com.

Charity Begins at Home

For years, the Elks National Foundation has granted millions of dollars to provide educational opportunities to kids who might not otherwise have been able to attend college. But in 1996, the ENF Trustees began looking for ways the Foundation could provide a new source of pride for Elks members. The most compelling idea was a scholarship program for children of Elks members.

However, this task was not easy. The Trustees spent a considerable amount of time working on the logistics of the program, which included satisfying various IRS regulations. For example, the ENF had to make it clear that the program could not be used by the Elks to recruit members or to induce members to continue their membership. In addition, the program had to meet a percentage test. The number of scholarships awarded to children of the Elks under the program in any year could not exceed 25 percent of the number of Elks children who entered the contest.

With a strong framework in hand, the Foundation announced its newest scholarship contest, the ENF Legacy Awards, on July 20, 1998, at the national convention in Anaheim, Calif. The contest was exclusively for children of Elks in good standing. The inaugural class of 330 Legacy Award winners was announced in April 1999.

In response to members’ concerns and a limited number of applicants, the ENF Trustees voted to allow grandchildren of Elks members to be eligible for the 2002, and subsequent, contests.

With the belief that charity should begin at home, the ENF Legacy Awards program is source of hope for Elks families that want to provide their children with the resources to pursue a college education. To date, the Elks National Foundation has awarded $1,013,333 to outstanding children and grandchildren of Elks’ members, making their dreams come true.