To honor fallen soldier Army Spc. Eric Burri, his sacrifice for our country, and his concern for the Iraqi children, his family with the West Michigan community collected 5,000 shoes for the Iraqi children in 2005. This past year Eric’s story and Pamela’s Hometown Hero artwork have inspired other concerned citizens from children as young as eight to older adults to organize additional shoe drives.
Miss Coopersville Scholarship Program showcased Hometown Hero and the legacy of Eric Burri’s life in August; pageant guests donated shoes at the event. After the pageant, Little Miss Coopersville, Chloe Russell, and first runner up, Olivia McDonald, walked door to door collecting shoes with their little red wagon. The two eight-year-old girls donated over eighty pairs of shoes.
This month in response to Hometown Hero, Denise Kohler, president of Kohler Expos, is teaming up with Patty Alexander and the South-Kent Blue Star Mothers to collect shoes during the Kids & Family Expo at DeVos Place. Pamela will be exhibiting a Hometown Hero mini installation at the event. Plus Grand Rapids Harley-Davidson will be showcasing four motorcycles.
ArtPrize Seven’s Hometown Hero is inspiring young community leaders, as well as adults, to honor Eric’s legacy of making a difference—demonstrating the power of a hero’s influence and how art is a catalyst for healing.
Hometown Hero Shoe Drive
DeVos Place
Saturday, January 24, 2016
10 am to 5 pm
From January 16-30, drop off your donations at the following locations:
Brann’s Steakhouse • 401 Leonard Street NW, Grand Rapids
Marge’s Donuts • 1751 28th Street SW, Wyoming
Peppino’s Pizza (South) • 1515 Eastport SE, Kentwood
Sponsored by Kohler Expos and the South-Kent Blue Star Mothers
