About Us | Grounded Soles Foundation

Why Shoes Matter

I've always loved shoes. Not just as fashion - shoes represent readiness, confidence, the ability to show up for what life demands.

For a while, I'd been thinking about turning that passion into something bigger. But it took seeing the gap firsthand to push me from idea to action.

A conversation with a coach: families needed financial help just to pay football dues - which meant they definitely couldn't afford shoes.

Years of conducting interviews in my corporate role: watching people show up in whatever shoes they had, knowing it affected their confidence and presentation.

Volunteering over the years: seeing donations pour in for clothes, jackets, school supplies, food, toys - but shoes? Consistently overlooked. A recent volunteer experience confirmed it - shoes are the afterthought in emergency assistance.

Seeing kids with taped shoes. People making do with what they had.

The insight: shoes aren't just a physical need. Not having the right shoes creates a barrier to even attempting something. The barrier is as much emotional as practical.

That's why Grounded Soles Foundation does more than distribute footwear. We connect families with educational resources, job training programs, and economic pathways that build lasting stability - because everyone deserves to show up at their best.

Mission & Vision

Our Mission

To remove barriers to opportunity by providing essential footwear and creating pathways to education, employment, and economic stability for families facing hardship.

Our Vision

A community where no child misses school and no parent misses a job opportunity simply because they lack proper footwear—where every family has access to the resources they need to build a stable, prosperous future.

Our Values

🤝

Dignity

We believe every person deserves respect, compassion, and the opportunity to thrive with dignity intact.

🎯

Impact

We measure success not by shoes distributed, but by lives changed and opportunities unlocked.

🌱

Sustainability

We create lasting change through education, training, and pathways to economic independence.

🔗

Partnership

We collaborate with communities, businesses, and organizations to multiply our impact.

💡

Innovation

We continuously seek better ways to serve families and address root causes of hardship.

❤️

Compassion

We lead with empathy, understanding that every family's journey is unique.

Founder Story

Sam Cambridge is the founder of Grounded Soles Foundation, a Georgia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to ensuring no one misses an opportunity due to lack of access to necessary footwear.

With 16 years of experience as a parent and a lifelong passion for shoes, Sam recognized a gap that others overlooked. Through years of volunteering - donating clothes, school supplies, food, and financial assistance - she noticed shoes were consistently the afterthought. A conversation with a coach about families needing help with sports dues crystallized the realization: if they couldn't afford dues, they definitely couldn't afford shoes.

Combining this insight with 24 years of corporate experience in risk management and compliance at Verizon - including conducting countless interviews where she saw how inadequate footwear affected confidence and presentation - Sam launched Grounded Soles Foundation in 2025.

"Economic hardship can fall on anyone at any time," Sam explains. "Zip codes aren't boundaries for need. Over the years, I've seen kids with taped shoes, people making do with what they had. Shoes aren't just about physical needs - not having the right shoes creates an emotional barrier to even attempting something."

That realization drove the creation of Grounded Soles Foundation, with a mission that extends beyond any single community. The organization serves both youth and adults, providing shoes and pathways to education, employment, and economic stability.

Sam holds a Master's degree in Organizational Behavior from University of Phoenix and a Bachelor's degree in Criminology from University of South Florida. She is an active member of Junior League of Gwinnett and North Fulton Counties and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

A Cumming resident and single parent to a multi-sport athlete, Sam understands firsthand the importance of proper footwear for athletic participation and academic success. Through Grounded Soles Foundation, she's building partnerships with social service organizations, schools, athletic programs, and community groups to ensure families have access to the shoes they need.

Our Story