It takes a village.
Our Team.
Oliver Tsao
Founder, Board of Directors, & Volunteer
“I started Next Step Shoes because I saw an opportunity to make a difference and a positive impact. I was very concerned by the fact that homeless and underserved individuals frequently do not have adequate footwear. I saw a problem and organized a simple solution to help address this need.
My high school education has focused on my formation as a servant leader and becoming a Man for Others. Uniting community groups with a common goal of doing good felt like a natural next step.”
Penelope Tsao
Board of Directors & Volunteer
“I joined Next Step Shoes because it was a simple way to make a big impact and help our neighbors. I love this organization because not only are we helping a lot of different people with their safety and functionality, but we are also being environmentally responsible by finding a way to reuse items that might otherwise end up in landfills.”
Our
Ambassadors.
Our Ambassador team works to create connections within their own close-knit communities to Next Step Shoes - growing our reach by leaps and bounds. Become a Next Step Shoes Ambassador for your school or organization.
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Kate Jurkash
AMBASSADOR
Our first Next Step Shoes Ambassador, Kate Jurkash is a senior at Episcopal High School. With the help of her community and school service program, Kate was able to collect 125 pairs of shoes in one week!
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Evan Nanna
AMBASSADOR
Evan is a senior at St. John’s School. He is a varsity football player and wrestler in addition to serving in student government. He became a Next Step Shoes Ambassador to make an impact and support his friend, Oliver.
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Matthew Chung
AMBASSADOR
Matthew is a senior at St. Thomas High School. He is a varsity athlete on the cross country and track and field teams.
As a runner, Matthew understands the need for comfortable footwear. Joining Next Step Shoes has allowed him to help other students get access to shoes that will help them become better students and athletes.