Barefoot in Indy

Former Indiana University basketball coach Dan Dakich is doing his daily radio show on Emmis’ WFNI-AM “1070 The Fan” Indianapolis barefoot through January 17th to draw awareness to Samaritan's Feet, a charity which aids third world children by, among other things, giving them shoes. IUPUI Basketball Coach Ron Hunter will coach barefoot during his team’s game on January 17th, and he and Dakich are trying to get more than 500 basketball coaches at all levels to coach barefoot on that day.

If you’re not familiar with Samaritan’s Feet, here’s what the organization says about its mission on its website:

“Samaritan’s Feet is an international ministry focused on bringing a life-changing message of hope to youth and children through sports and recreational adventures. We provide relief to hurting people displaced due to poverty, ravaging wars and religious persecution. We demonstrate compassion by washing and equipping their feet with shoes and touching their hearts with the love of God.”

The organization’s founder, Emmanuel Ohonme, received his first pair of tennis shoes from an American stranger as an impoverished nine-year-old boy in Nigeria and went on to receive a basketball scholarship at the University of North Dakota. Although he’s been a successful executive in the US, Ohonme has never forgotten that there are other children still living as he once did in Africa. Have an opinion on this article? Post your comment below.