Sneakers and Second Chances

With every pair of shoes, Janea Sizemore is helping Clark County’s youth step confidently into a brighter future.

The gym echoes with excitement. Dozens of kids fill the space, buzzing with curiosity. At the front of the room stands Janea Sizemore, microphone in hand, voice steady but filled with joy. “By a show of hands,” she calls out, “who wants to leave school for the day, pick out a new pair of shoes at the Boulevard Mall, enjoy a catered lunch, visit the animals at SeaQuest, and wear those shoes to school tomorrow?”
The hands shoot up, the room erupts in cheers.
But this is more than a field trip. It is a promise, a challenge, and a reward. And it is just the beginning of what Your Perfect Footwear Foundation does for the children of Clark County.

Walking in Their Shoes

Janea Sizemore knows exactly what it feels like to be one of those kids. “I was one of the same children that I’m helping today,” she said. Her voice carries the weight of lived experience — the kind that turns pain into purpose. She remembers the emotional burden of showing up to school without the right shoes, without confidence, and how much that affected her focus, self-esteem, and academic performance.

So she built something to break that cycle.

Your Perfect Footwear Foundation provides new shoes and access to essential resources for underserved youth. But Janea is clear: “We don’t do handouts. We give hand-ups.” Her mission isn’t charity. It is empowerment.

Laced With Purpose

The idea for the foundation grew from Janea’s deep understanding of how appearance, mindset, and academic success are interconnected. Kids who feel good about themselves perform better. When they show up in new shoes they picked out themselves, pride replaces shame, and motivation kicks in.

“Our youth are the future,” Janea said. “They’re going to be our decision-makers when we get older. We have to take care of our future leaders.”

And she is doing just that — one school, one field trip, one student at a time.

Earning the Opportunity

Janea’s model is as innovative as it is impactful. Before any student earns the reward of a field trip, they attend a pep rally where Janea sets the stage. “We make it clear that this is not just a giveaway,” she explained. Students must meet expectations in attendance, behavior, and academic performance. They must show up to school, avoid truancies, participate in class, and maintain at least a C+ average.

“We’re changing the way they see school,” Janea said. “We’re showing them that hard work equals opportunity.”

After the pep rally, students have two to three months to earn their place. Teachers and administrators track progress, and those who meet the criteria are nominated to participate. On the day of the event, selected students get to visit Shoe Palace at the Boulevard Mall, shop for a pair of brand-new sneakers, and then head to One World (formerly SeaQuest) for a celebratory day filled with animals, mentorship, and lunch.

At the end of the trip, students fill out an academic pledge — a personal promise to continue their growth and commitment for the rest of the school year.

A New Kind of Movement

The outcomes speak volumes. In schools where the foundation operates, GPAs rise. Behavior improves. Students who once struggled to find motivation are now leading with confidence. In a recent project with Future Edge, Janea and her team worked directly with eighth-grade students known for behavioral issues. With guidance and structure, every single student earned their spot on the field trip.

“We are changing the mindset of how kids perceive school, which in turn raises GPAs across the valley,” Janea said. “And we’re doing it all with sneakers.”

The approach is personal and precise. It is not about numbers or vanity metrics. It is about dignity. Every field trip is documented with care, capturing the joy of students as they lace up their new shoes — many for the first time in their lives — surrounded by a community that believes in them.

In Her Own Words

Janea’s passion is unmistakable. She speaks with clarity, honesty, and a sense of mission that is contagious.

“Everything is either a learning lesson or a win,” she said. “Even when someone says no, it’s not a full no. It’s just a no for now.”

Her advice for other entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders? “Keep going. There’s plenty of opportunity to turn that no into a yes.”

And while some nonprofits focus on relief, Janea is focused on change. “We are not a charity case. We are preparing kids for their future, giving them tools to succeed and the mindset to believe they can.”

A Community Effort

The biggest challenge right now is awareness. Your Perfect Footwear Foundation has already made a measurable impact, but Janea knows it could do so much more — if more people simply knew about it.

“If we had more support, we could help even more kids,” she said. “There are so many Title I schools with students who just need a chance, someone to believe in them, and a reason to try.”

The community response has been heartening. Instagram and the organization’s website have brought in new supporters and donors. Janea keeps the content updated with event highlights and donation options, and she’s committed to showing the real faces behind the work.

But word-of-mouth only goes so far. To reach more schools, and eventually grow statewide, Janea needs the broader community to walk alongside her.

Stepping Into the Future

In the next six to twelve months, Janea hopes to expand to more schools throughout Clark County. Her long-term vision is statewide. The model works. The results are real. Now she’s ready to scale.

“We can’t do it without support,” she said. “Our tagline is ‘Take a walk in their shoes,’ and I invite everyone to do just that — to take a walk in the shoes of our future leaders.”

Supporting Your Perfect Footwear Foundation is more than giving a donation. It is investing in a generation. It is choosing to believe that change doesn’t always start at the top. Sometimes it starts at the bottom — with a new pair of shoes, a little pride, and someone who says, “You matter.”

To learn more or make a donation, visit yourperfectfootwear.org or follow the organization on Instagram at @yourperfectfootwearfoundation. Every contribution helps a child take a step toward a brighter tomorrow.

This feature is part of The Business Review Journal’s Local Spotlight Series — your trusted source for discovering the best small businesses in your community.