McDonald’s Owner/Operator, Carmen Solano-De Carrier, and the Golden State Foods Foundation (GSFF) partnered to provide more than 600 pairs of shoes to at-risk children through the GSF Foundation’s Best Food Forward program. The donations were made through local community organizations, including Casa Central, Erie Elementary Charter School, Erie Neighborhood House, and Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council. The Best Foot Forward program addresses an issue that’s often ignored – that some kids don’t participate in sports activities or even skip school because they don’t have appropriate shoes. This is the sixth year that Carmen and the GSF Foundation have partnered for Best Foot Forward and since 2017 have donated nearly 4,100 pairs of shoes to children in need.

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McDonald’s Owner/Operator, Carmen Solano-De Carrier, and Jay Lee, General Manager, QCD
Chicago West and GSF Foundation volunteer help Erie House kids try on the shoes donated by
Solano-De Carrier and the GSF Foundation as part of the” Best Foot Forward” program. The
purpose of this program is to ensure that kids have the shoes they need to be able to participate
in school sports.

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McDonald’s Owner/Operator, Carmen Solano-De Carrier, Chicago Alderman (15th Ward),
Raymond Lopez, BYNC and Executive Director Craig A. Chico give BYNC kids the shoes donated by Solano-De Carrier and the GSF Foundation through the “Best Foot Forward” program. This program is designed to ensure that kids have the shoes they need to participate in school sports.
Photos Courtesy of McDonald’s