1K Sneakers Donated To Cooper Hospital Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

Cooper University Health Care has received more than 1,000 pairs of shoes that were donated by Boston-based streetwear and sneaker retailer Concepts as part of the national “Sneakers for Heroes” program, the health system announced. The shoes will benefit Cooper’s medical residents and fellows.

Through the Sneakers for Heroes program, free shoes are distributed to medical professionals fighting on the front lines during the coronavirus pandemic. Sneakers for Heroes partners with shoe companies to deliver new footwear directly to essential medical workers. Concepts, which has stores in Boston and New York City, joined the initiative to support these health care personnel.

“We have a responsibility to do everything we can to help the community during these unprecedented times,” Concepts Chief Executive Officer Tarek Hassan said. “We would like to thank the healthcare workers on the front line leading the fight who are helping us win, one step at a time.”

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Jennifer Barthole said she founded Sneakers for Heroes because she wanted to show gratitude to healthcare heroes who continue to fight on the front lines during the coronavirus pandemic.

“I’m so appreciative of the Concepts and Lede media teams for partnering with me to donate to Cooper University Health Care,” Barthole said. “Hopefully a new pair of supportive sneakers will offer the team some physical relief and hopefully will put a smile on their faces.”

The donation was made possible, in part, by the efforts of Dr. Michael Post, a fifth year Fellow in the Division of Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine at Cooper. Post heard about the program and reached out to Sneakers for Heroes.

“We commend Dr. Post for his initiative and are extremely grateful to Concepts and the Sneakers for Heroes program for this incredible gift, which will benefit our hardworking resident physicians,” Cooper co-CEO Kevin O’Dowd said.

“As a leading academic health system, our medical residents and fellows are an integral part of our medical team and have provided critical support throughout the pandemic,” Cooper co-CEO Anthony J. Mazzarelli said.

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