Jack Harlow surprises Louisville children, adults with 1,000 free New Balance shoes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Louisville rapper surprised children and adults with 1,000 New Balance shoes on Tuesday evening.

Jack Harlow, a six-time Grammy-nominated artist, stopped at Metro United Way as part of his "No Place Like Home" concert series. New Balance and the Jack Harlow Foundation partnered for the event to benefit children and adults from Maryhurst, Sowing Seeds with Faith, St. John's Center, UpLouisville and Metro United Way.

"I've been waiting to do this for a long time, I grew up wearing New Balance, in high school I got picked on for wearing New Balance," Harlow said to the crowd. "I'm really proud to be able to do this with Metro United Way and my foundation."

Dozens of children received new shoes and met Harlow, posing for photos at the event in downtown Louisville. They wrote hand-written thank you notes to Harlow to show their appreciation.

Adria Johnson, CEO of Metro United Way, said Harlow wanted to support young people in Louisville, which led to the event.

"This was kept very quiet for a reason, we wanted this to be a surprise," Johnson said. "He's a very humble person, I think that plays out on how he wants to bless the community."

Maggie Harlow, Jack's mother and executive director of the Jack Harlow Foundation, said it's the largest giveaway the foundation has done with New Balance. 

"It was short of an organic result because Jack loves New Balance, he has loved New Balance since he was a kid," Maggie Harlow said. "Jack had this big idea of a thousand shoe giveaway, and New Balance was all in."

She said Harlow hand-picked the local organizations that would be supported by the giveaway.

"He always wanted to have that part of his brand, supporting his hometown," Maggie Harlow said. "It's all from his heart, it's all very genuine."

Harlow is also collecting donations for local nonprofits while on tour in Kentucky. Harlow is visiting parts of Kentucky for his third annual "No Place Like Home" tour.

The Atherton High School graduate is collecting donations for local nonprofits with the help of Metro United Way during the tour. Items being collected include deodorant, body wash, non-perishable foods, toilet paper, paper towel rolls and children's pajamas. 

"This isn't about me, this is about our city and organizations in our community being able to come together and do something special like this," Jack Harlow said to the crowd. "Thank you to everyone in here who are contributing to make this city a better place."

Harlow is set to perform on Friday in Murray at CFSB Center.

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