Skechers’ Philanthropy Program:
- In 2024, Skechers announced it would, for the first time, allocate funds specifically to support physical education and student athletic programs.
- Stephen F. Austin High School in Houston, Texas, was selected as the national program winner of this inaugural program, receiving a $20,000 donation specifically aimed at supporting their men’s and women’s soccer team
Bright smiles lit up the soccer field at Stephen F. Austin High School in Houston, Texas, but this wasn’t your average game day. The excitement buzzing in the air wasn’t from goals or victories—though those are sure to come. Instead, it came from an oversized $20,000 check presented by Skechers, the national footwear giant, kicking off its first-ever philanthropic partnership with Adopt-a-Classroom to support high school athletics.
Principal Lucio Rodriguez couldn’t hide his pride. “To me, Austin, the school, and the team, it means the world,” Rodriguez shared, his voice steady with genuine gratitude. “Being able to get support from a big corporate sponsor like Skechers means we’re able to even the playing field for a school like ours that serves underprivileged children.”
That level playing field isn’t just a metaphor. For Austin High’s men’s and women’s soccer teams, it’s the difference between worn-out cleats and brand-new gear; between patchy goals and pristine nets. Coach Melvin Belong put it plainly: “We need goals. We have practice equipment needs, jerseys… just to ensure we’re always well-equipped. With this donation, kids won’t struggle, and we as coaches won’t have to struggle to provide.”
Equipment struggles in high school sports are nothing new. But at Austin High, a school in a district facing tight budgets and economic challenges, those struggles run deeper. The student-athletes here fight battles off the field that rival any competition they face on it. Skechers’ donation isn’t just money; it’s recognition, validation, and an injection of confidence.
“Every face that I saw today had a big, shining smile,” Principal Rodriguez said, visibly moved by the moment. He believes deeply in opportunities. “Donations like this help us serve students who normally don’t have access to tournaments or equipment. It gives them exposure, gives them opportunities—more ways to succeed.”
The student-athletes themselves echoed this sentiment. Angelina Gomez, captain of the women’s team, felt the impact personally. Her excitement was palpable. “I see this as motivation for us. It’ll bring us to a whole new level,” she said, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. “I never would have imagined this happening to us.”
Jesus Ramirez, captain of the men’s team, nodded in agreement. His words, though simple, captured the essence perfectly: “It really means a lot, seeing the support we’re getting to improve. Just grateful.”
This gratitude wasn’t lost on Skechers. Arlene Guerrero, Skechers’ manager of public relations, made the journey herself to deliver the check. Standing at midfield, Guerrero explained the significance clearly: “Skechers and Adopt-a-Classroom are donating $20,000 because we’re committed to supporting physical education programs. We look forward to seeing you all thrive both on and off the field.”
Thrive is exactly what these young athletes plan to do. The donation’s significance stretches beyond equipment—it signals belief. In a district often overshadowed by challenges, the gesture from Skechers is monumental. It whispers: You matter, you are seen, and you deserve every chance to succeed.
Coach Belong reinforced this message, knowing firsthand what new cleats or practice jerseys can do for a team’s morale. “It builds confidence in the kids, seeing that people care about them,” he explained earnestly. For many of these students, such care and recognition are rare commodities.
It’s easy to forget that high school athletes don’t just play for fun—they play for futures. Scholarships, college admissions, careers, and lifelong lessons in teamwork and discipline all hinge on their experiences now. Skechers’ involvement underscores the importance of continued support throughout students’ journeys, not just at early stages.
Principal Rodriguez put this long-term view into perspective: “Being able to provide these supports as students transition into the college level gives them reassurance. It shows we still care about what they’re doing.”
As the ceremony concluded, students and staff alike lingered on the field, basking in the glow of this newfound support. Principal Rodriguez, smiling, summarized perfectly: “Every opportunity like this is a stepping stone to success for our students.”
In sports, stepping stones matter. Today, Skechers didn’t just deliver a donation—they delivered hope, pride, and a clear message to Austin High’s soccer players: Keep kicking forward, we’ve got your back.
Additional Details and Interview Transcriptions
Luci Rodriguez
Sketchers, a national partner donate funds to the girls and boys Junior Varsity and varsity Socrates. So this event marks the first time that Skechers and Adopt a Classroom are working together to allocate funds.
Arlene Guerrero
As Principal Rodriguez just shared today, we’re here to celebrate a special contribution. The athletic performance division, including our recent venture into basketball and soccer we are glad you are here today. Skechers remained committed to supporting physical education programs through the adopt a classroom. So Skechers and Adopt a Classroom are donating $20,000 to the Austin boys and girls soccer team. Good luck with this years soccer season with this contribution. We look forward seeing you all thrive both on and off the field. Thank you all for your support, and let’s give a round of applause to the Austin senior high school soccer teams. Thank you.
Lucio Rodriguez
I believe in each and every single one of you and your student and your coaches, believe in each and every single one of you. So what I want this to be for you is an opportunity to understand that we are going to do everything to level the playing field. So continue to use these opportunities as set in stones to success for your future. So again, I want to thank the coaches. I want to thank the HSD Community Relations certifications department and, of course, Sketchers for presenting us with this amazing opportunity for our students and the great job that our school district is doing for us. So big round of applause for everyone. Thank you.
Angelina Gomez
I see this as a way of motivation for us. I feel like it’ll bring us to a whole new level and give us more to advance. To me
Jesus Ramirez
And my teammates, it really means a lot, you know, to see the support and just see the support we’re getting to improve. Just have a good season and just grateful for the support.
Angelina Gomez
I never would have imagined this happening to us, because we recently, like the football team, received a great big sponsorship from the Texans. And I think it’s great to see that we also get to receive that same type of thing.
Jesus Ramirez
I would really just like say that we’re really grateful for this, this opportunity. And thank you.
Lucio Rodriguez
So to me and Austin and the school and the team, it means the world. So being able to get support from a big corporate sponsor like Sketchers means that we’re getting to be able to even the playing field for school like ours that serves under privileged children, that helps us be able to give them opportunities that they normally wouldn’t get. So being able to get this partnership means more than you know, and it helps us be able to provide opportunities. So every face that I saw today had a big, shining smile, and that just shows me that they highly appreciate all the efforts the partnership that we have today. So part of our vision is to ensure that every student has Candace chief success. So donations such as this helps us be able to serve those students that normally don’t have access to those type of opportunities. So a donation like this helps us be able to get them access to opportunities that normally they wouldn’t get to, like tournaments or equipment, uniforms, things of that nature that normally we wouldn’t be able to get those students now we can organizations such as Sketchers and adopt the classroom. Being able to donate to programs specifically at the high school level, shows that we still care about the students. I know that a lot of students and children get that attention at the younger ages, but being able to provide those supports still, as they grow and transition into the college level, give them that reassurance that we are still providing the supports we do still care what they’re doing, and we are still providing the same opportunities to be able to level that playing field, that that gives them exposure, gives them opportunities, and gives them just more opportunities to succeed.
Melvin Belong
Well, I think as far as equipment, it would make a big difference. We need goals. So I think it would make a big difference there. And we have some practice equipment that we need, also practice jerseys and stuff like that, just to make sure that we’re always equipped and well equipped, especially also with the weather. So I think it make a big difference there. Yes, I think it will help by having the kids not having to struggle, or us as coaches having to struggle to provide so I think it will be at par with all the best programs in the city and in the in the district. Yeah, it builds confidence in the kids, and to see that people care about them, like I mentioned before. Thank we want to thank Skechers again for the donation. It will help tremendously. And just equipment wise, kids sometimes don’t have money to provide for their cleats, for instance, you know, and then to have it there, and be able to have new cleats, it’d be tremendous. It’s a tremendous gift, you know, to them and to the program. Yeah.
