Fletch's Perspective May 2026 - Friends & Neighbors of Martin County

Keith Fletcher

Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County, President & CEO

We can all recall the challenges of early adolescence. The strong desire to fit in and the sting of insecurity when you felt left out. Something as simple as wearing the “wrong” brand of sneakers could easily impact your social standing.

But at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County, many of our members would be happy to have ANY brand of sneakers.

Coach Steven Binder—founder and CEO of Project New Step Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring confidence, hope and opportunity for undeserved children—is a longtime basketball coach, skills trainer, mentor, and youth advocate.

Steven created the foundation after recognizing something simple yet profound: A new pair of sneakers isn’t just a physical necessity; it can lift a child’s spirits, raise their self-esteem and confidence, and increase their sense of belonging.

Coach generously volunteers his time at our Hobe Sound Club to teach our members the game he loves. He noticed that many of the kids lacked sneakers suited for running the floor, pivoting, jumping and properly enjoying the game. Some only had off-brand Crocks. Others had shoes so inadequate they resorted to playing in their socks.

So, Coach stepped up—in a big way.

Marshalling his network of contacts in the athletic sportswear industry, he teamed with his foundation’s outstanding board of directors. Then, with support from dedicated BGCMC donors, he secured nearly 1,500 pairs of shoes for every one of the members in the daily care of our five clubs.

To help make the event a lifelong memory, BGCMC staff and his foundation created “Sneaker Celebrations.” They refashioned sections of each club to resemble a sneaker store at the mall. When the kids arrived at their respective clubs after a day at school, they experienced world-class customer service.

First, they got measured for their perfect fit. This was a little for show as our team had already secured the ideal size for every child. Still, it was no small task. As any parent of multiple children can attest, kids’ feet grow fast. Imagine trying to get pairs for 1,500 kids.

This lifted a significant financial burden off our families. Nearly nine in 10 of our kids hail from households that are economically constrained. Most members qualify for free/reduced lunch. We provide them with a healthy snack and meal daily, two meals a day during the summer, and backpacks full of food staples over the weekend and holidays.

Thanks to the kindness of our community, we’re able to help our members with academics, workforce training, job opportunities through our culinary program, specialized vocational training and apprenticeships, and more.

Now thanks to Coach Steven and Project New Step, we were able to give them something that’s pretty spectacular—the simple sense of satisfaction that comes with a new pair of cool shoes. Nike Dunks, in case you’re wondering, one of the most popular styles of retro sneakers available right now. Ideal for making sure our members can confidently put their best foot forward.

To help make this free sneaker program an annual event, please visit ProjectNewStep.org.