Contact: Emily Britton
Public Relations Specialist
Phone: 800.724.9282 x3397
Email: ebritton@reliantcu.com

SODUS, N.Y., June 2, 2026—Reliant Credit Union continues its commitment to helping students in the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes region put their best feet forward! Recently, Reliant donated 97 new pairs of sneakers to The Children’s School of Rochester No. 15. The sneakers will be distributed to students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade.

This first donation of the year marks a special milestone for Reliant’s Feet Forward program, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2026. Feet Forward is a special community effort Reliant created in 2016, through which the credit union partners with area schools and organizations to provide quality sneakers to kids who need them. For the seventh year in a row, Reliant is collaborating with Jonathan Griffiths, owner of Rochester Running Company, who helped facilitate the credit union’s purchase of an array of high-quality sneakers so that the credit union could donate them to children who otherwise wouldn’t have access to quality footwear.

“Every child deserves to feel confident and supported when they walk into school,” said Pamela Heald, President & CEO of Reliant. “By providing something as essential as a new pair of sneakers, we hope to make a meaningful difference in students’ daily lives and help set them up for success. Supporting the communities we serve, especially our young people, is at the heart of everything we do.”

Since Reliant started Feet Forward in 2016, the credit union has donated 2,833 pairs of sneakers—a total investment of over $86,900 to help local children.

“The Children’s School of Rochester No. 15 is incredibly grateful for the support from Reliant and Rochester Running Co.,” said Rob Johnson, Community Liaison Specialist at The Children’s School of Rochester No. 15. “Their generosity and continued support of our students and families means a lot to our school community. For many students, receiving a new pair of sneakers brought excitement and helped meet a real need for families. We appreciate their partnership and willingness to continue supporting our students.”

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