On July 9, the Northeast Community Center Clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southcentral Alaska welcomed a very special guest: Blitz, the Seattle Seahawks mascot! With the Kicks 4 Kids initiative in full swing, Blitz helped hand out new shoes to around 100 Club members, just in time for back‑to‑school season.
Why it mattered:
- As school approaches, families often face hefty expenses—the National Retail Federation reports back-to-school costs average $875 per child
- Blitz’s visit helped alleviate part of that burden with free footwear, boosting kids’ confidence and readiness for learning. “You can just tell they were having a fantastic time,” said CEO Susan A. Anderson, M.Ed.
- The Seahawks organization echoed this impact: “We all know kids grow exponentially, so replacing their tennis shoes is sometimes difficult for parents… it gives the kids confidence.”
Bigger than just shoes:
This marks the first year the Seahawks have partnered directly with the Anchorage Boys & Girls Clubs, though the Kicks 4 Kids program has donated roughly 3,000 pairs across Alaska. Former Seahawk Lofa Tatupu, was on hand to help make the day even more special.
More support for Alaska’s kids:
In addition to the shoes and snacks that were provided, BGCSAK received a very generous donation of $100,000 from the Safeway Foundation to support kids throughout the state.
Gunalcheesh to everyone who made this event possible, it was a day our kids won’t soon forget.
Check out some of the resulting news coverage:
July 9, 2025: Alaska’s News Source: Seattle Seahawks mascot helps pass out dozens of donated shoes to Alaska Boys and Girls Club – https://www.alaskasnewssource.com
July 9, 2025: Your Alaska Link: Facebook Reel, YouTube+2Facebook+2Facebook+2
July 22, 2025: Seahawks Twitter Post