It was a Winter Break sendoff that no one at PS 74 will soon forget.

Just before the holidays, our school was transformed into a celebration of kindness thanks to Rami Rifi, a 16-year-old junior from Staten Island Academy. Rifi, through his non-profit organization “Play Passion Project,” visited our campus with a massive surprise: a brand-new or gently used pair of sneakers for every single student.

The event turned a regular school day into a holiday parade. Students from every grade lined the halls to meet Santa Claus, enjoy hot chocolate and cookies, and receive their new kicks. For many of our classmates, the gift was more than just footwear—it was a boost of confidence to start the New Year.

“It’s a lot more than shoes. It is what the shoes represent: dignity, confidence, and having something comfortable to walk in,” Rifi said during the event.

The idea for the donation didn’t start in a boardroom, but in Rifi’s own closet. Last January, he realized he had nearly 30 pairs of sneakers he had outgrown. Instead of throwing them away, he decided to give them to those who needed them most. That simple act of cleaning out a closet grew into the Play Passion Project, which has since distributed thousands of shoes across the region.

For our school community, the impact was personal. With many families facing economic challenges, the gift of quality sneakers—some still in their original boxes—relieved a burden for parents and brought genuine smiles to students’ faces.

“We got them because they looked cool,” one student said, showing off a pair of white sneakers. “They kind of look fancy.”

Rifi’s generosity has earned him the title of NY1’s “New Yorker of the Week,” but to the students of PS 74, he is simply a neighbor who cared enough to make a difference. His visit serves as a powerful lesson for all of us: you are never too young to start a movement, and even a single pair of shoes can change someone’s day.

To learn more about Rifi’s work or to see how you can help, you can look up the Play Passion Project online.