“I’ve Never Owned a New Pair of Shoes”
On today’s show I sat down with Casey Crouse, founder and executive director of New Shoe Day, about ending shoe insecurity for Hoosier youth so kids can move, participate, and thrive with dignity.
Casey traces his life of service to the 2005 death of his sister Ashley, an IU Dance Marathon leader, and how launching Carmel High School Dance Marathon in her honor led him to IU and eventually becoming IUDM president in 2009.
In 2020, Casey and Trevor Dewitt created “1001 City,” running 10 miles a day for 100 days across Indianapolis, meeting residents and sparking the “New Shoe Day” idea through small acts of kindness that grew into a GoFundMe.
New Shoe Day became a 501(c)(3) in 2021, expanded demand in 2023, distributed about 3,500 pairs in 2024 and 5,500 in 2025, and now operates shoe pantries and partner projects statewide.
If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast.
You are going to learn about:
The Creation of “1001 City” and Run Club
How New Shoe Day Grew from Acts of Kindness to a GoFundMe and 501(c)(3)
Indiana Shoe Banks
Thank you to our partners:
Elements Financial
Check out these great clips from the show:
01:36 Guest Introduction: Casey Crouse, New Shoe Day
03:59 Sister Ashley Legacy
07:30 Carmel Dance Marathon
11:20 Choosing IU and IUDM
17:22 Endurance to Fundraise
20:15 1001 City Challenge
25:58 Stories From the Streets
29:01 New Shoe Day Begins
38:36 From Project to Nonprofit
39:39 Run Club Origins
40:36 Launching New Shoe Day
42:52 Sourcing Shoes Early
44:39 Demand Surge Indicators
45:32 Big 1200 Pair Project
47:11 Defining Shoe Insecurity
51:51 Scaling Beyond Events
54:29 Indiana Shoe Bank Model
55:51 Going Full Time Leap
59:43 Building Operations Roadmap
01:02:28 Corporate Partners Support
01:03:54 How To Get Involved
01:06:30 Indiana Quickfire Questions
