Mission: Starting May 2, 2012 until May 2, 2013, I will wear a variety of Palladium Boots. Once a day, I will document my life wearing the aviation and military inspired boot.
Why?: I have always been inspired by the military process.
As a pilot, Summer Search Alumni, and proud graduate of Culver Summer Military School in Culver, Indiana I know firsthand the importance of investing in our youth. We need to empower our youth with the opportunity to dream and to believe in their own hearts and minds.
Why Palladium boots?: I choose to wear Palladium boots because their past includes making aircraft tires. After WWII, when demand diminished for aircraft rubber, Palladium began making footwear. In 1947, they created their famous Pampa boot, which was later adopted by the French Foreign Legion.
The Real Objective: The connection between my love for a stylish boot, my personal interest in aviation, and a desire to help out a public military school in Oakland, has inspired me on this mission to support the Oakland Military Institute. Turnitin, the company that I work for, has agreed to match my charitable donation of $2,500 to Oakland Military Institute. These funds will be used to help support (1) Marching Band Instruments, (2) Travel Expenses For Color Guard and Drill Teams, (3) College Scholarships, (4) Uniform Replacements and (5) Computers for the Library.
Oakland Military Institute: Oakland Military Institute is a small charter school in Oakland, California. Their mission is simple: "To provide a structured and rigorous academic program where cadets develop as leaders, scholars, critical thinkers and citizens. Through a military framework, the school inspires honor and pride within its cadets, cultivating life-long respect, confidence, physical fitness and wellness and appreciation for others. Upon graduation, cadets will have completed the A-G requirements for admission to the Cal-State and University of California systems as well as top private and public universities nationwide."
How you can help: Please help me in supporting my cause with your donation. Any amount would be appreciated.
My good friend Andre Sion (left) is in town for business from Singapore. I haven’t seen him in about 4 years. We had a great dinner at O3 in San Francisco. Great catching up! He wants me to send him a pair of boots.
“A man’s growth is seen in the successive choirs of his friends.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
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