October 21, 2025 -- In an inspiring display of leadership growing here, more than 140 volunteers from Designer Brands and United Way of Central Ohio joined Columbus City Schools (CCS) for a day of community pride. Working alongside students, the volunteers helped transform Champion Middle School and the surrounding Mount Vernon neighborhood, shaping the future of the places where our students live and learn.
"Today started as a small ask and small offering,” said Champion Middle School Principal Kay Fields-Battle. "It was just a pollinator bed and some flowers to beautify the front of my school, and it grew into something much larger that's going to beautify the community that my students are in."
Designer Brands, the subsidiary for famous names like Designer Shoe Warehouse, Lucky Brands, and Keds, enlisted associates to roll up their sleeves for a day of community service. The day consisted of cleaning, planting, and beautifying school grounds and nearby blocks at two CCS locations.
Working side by side with students, volunteers picked up litter, trimmed bushes, and planted flowers, creating a welcoming space where students feel proud to walk through the doors each morning.
"This is a community that already shows up for itself," said Vice President of Resource Development and Chief of Development for United Way of Central Ohio Mary Birchard. "The neighborhood has already put a lot of these great projects into the works to build sustainable options for food and community beautification. I hope that by showing up here today as United Way and Designer Brands, what we're showing students and the community is that they're not in this alone, that the larger central Ohio community is here with them."
Volunteers also spoke with students about taking pride in their neighborhoods and what it means to be a change-maker. The message aligns directly to this year's districtwide theme, Leaders Grown Here. Students learned that leadership starts small, by caring for your community, respecting your environment, and setting an example for others to follow.
"Today provides an opportunity for people, groups, and businesses who want to be partners with Columbus City schools," Fields-Battle said. "I want to be partners with businesses, community leaders, and more to come in and volunteer and give their time, which also is a model for my students."
Beyond Champion, the work extended to nearby schools. Weinland Park welcomed dozens of volunteers. Trevitt Elementary, Eastgate Elementary, and Ohio Avenue Elementary received new raised flower beds filled with native pollinator plants donated and assembled by the Designer Brands and United Way teams.
The goal of the day went beyond beautification; it was about connections.
"Designer Brands has our biggest associate presence in Columbus," said Director of Associate Engagement and Community at Designer Brands Teresa Eiglea. "The big goal for us is just creating connections among our employees. It's multiple-fold where we're able to get out in the community and give back to the communities that we live in. Also have this opportunity outside of work for connection and community, within our own teams."
Block by block, volunteers helped build spaces where learning and leadership can flourish, and reminded everyone that strong schools grow from strong neighborhoods.
