2015 -- H 6282

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LC002775

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING AND THANKING NICHOLAS LOWINGER FOR CREATING THE "GOTTA

HAVE SOLE FOUNDATION"

     Introduced By: Representative Robert B. Lancia

     Date Introduced: June 04, 2015

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Nicholas Lowinger is a bright, caring and enterprising young man who daily

strives to make a difference in the world and to help those less fortunate people in dire need of

assistance; and

     WHEREAS, At a very young age, Nicholas was saddened to see young children living in

homeless shelters, suffering from a deficiency of numerous things, including adequate footwear.

Their plight inspired him to try to do something to change this condition and, thus was born the

idea to create a charitable entity to do something creative to help these youngsters; and

     WHEREAS, In 2010, as part of a community service project for his Bar Mitzvah

ceremony, Nicholas created the "Gotta Have Sole Foundation." Working from the family's

garage, stuffed with Nike, Stride Rite and New Balance Sneakers, winter boots, and special shoes

for toddlers, Nicholas and his foundation have distributed much-needed footwear to

approximately 36,000 deserving children in 41 states and have visited countless homeless shelters

distributing shoes, sneakers, and, most important of all, hope to people living on the margins of

life; and

     WHEREAS, Nicholas has earned many well-deserved awards and honors for his

charitable endeavors, including most recently being awarded the Nickelodeon HALO (Helping

and Leading Others) Award and the Charlotte Bacon Act of Kindness Award. Nicholas has also

appeared on the "Today Show," NBC Nightly News, and CNN; and

     WHEREAS, Nicholas is currently a 17 year old junior attending the Wheeler School. He

is a member of the Debate Club and plays tennis for the Wheeler Varsity Tennis Team, which just

won the 2015 Rhode Island Boys Division Two State Championship. Nicholas is also an avid

public speaker. He gives numerous speeches at national conferences and galas and specifically

focuses on inspiring and motivating young people to give back to their communities; now,

therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby honors and congratulates Nicholas Lowinger for creating the

"Gotta Have Sole Foundation" which provides much needed footwear to homeless youngsters and

those living in poverty; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Nicholas Lowinger and Lisa Lowinger.

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