Sophomore Hayden Speeth is an aspiring entrepreneur and founder of 440 Kicks, a shoe and apparel business. Recently, he used his platform as an entrepreneur to give back to the greater Cleveland community, partnering with University Hospitals to donate more than 80 pairs of shoes to families in need prior to the start of the new school year. His efforts did not go unnoticed, as Speeth was featured in a News 5 Cleveland spot following his event, “440 Kicks for Kids.”
“Seeing the smile on their faces and knowing the joy that they have from having a new pair of shoes, that just warms and fills my heart. And I really just feel like I completed where I’ve come from," Speeth said. “I started with zero dollars in my pocket and grew to where I am today. When I was in the eighth grade I felt bullied for not having name brand shoes and I decided to change the narrative myself," he said. "I went around the house and sold everything I could on eBay just to get my money up. I bought my first pair of shoes and from there it just turned into wear them a couple times, clean them up and then sell them and make a few dollars.“
To learn more about Speeth’s mission at 440 Kicks, visit the News 5 Cleveland feature here.
