"Hero For a Day"

As a result of the growing recognition of our efforts, Unity Partnership recently received an incredibly generous donation of 3,500 pairs of children’s sports shoes. The brand is Super Heroic designed by Jason Mayden, a Chicago native. His inspiring story, which includes commentary by Magic Johnson, is featured in the following link under, “Watch our Origin.”   The Super Heroic Story  
Jason recently had another professional triumph, a billboard on Times Square heralding his latest business venture, “Hasbro and Super Heroic team up to promote new NERF apparel and footwear line.” 





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​The shoes are designed around the theme of heroes, and the topic provides a natural springboard for discussion of perceptions and feelings. We are exploring creative ways to make the giveaway a day to remember for the kids while promoting meaningful dialogue between youth and police. The Super Heroic, “Hero for a Day,” events are about reminding kids in challenging circumstances that everyone can be a hero. They also remind police that we recognize their heroism and that we care.

Unity Partnership is disseminating the shoes to law enforcement agencies, churches, park districts, schools, and youth homes across the Chicagoland area and downstate.  The shoes will be distributed to underserved youth from diverse cultures and backgrounds to encourage them to become all they aspire to be, no matter the situation. 

We hope that through these “Hero for a Day” events, Unity Partnership will create new long term partnerships with other mission driven organizations that can help us fulfill our goals, and we in turn can help them fulfill theirs.  Our hope is that the public can begin to see thall the work that Unity Partnership has been doing to improve the relationship between the police and the community, and to support our efforts by joining as members.

We thank the designer, Mr. Jason Mayden, and Mr. Albert Mayden, CEO of Super Heroic for the shoes; our sponsors, Mr. John Burgess, CEO of International Services, Inc. and the Cantigny Foundation.  We also want to acknowledge Stratford Square Mall for the use of the storage space.  And a special thanks to the volunteers who helped with the inventory and distribution of the shoes, and all who helped to bring many of these events to fruition.

We'll continue to update the site as the events unfolds.  We already have many wonderful stories we're excited to share!

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Marco Guerrero and Miss Shaun (on both ends of the banner) from the Gary Comer Youth Center with Cheryl Clayton, Regina Brent, and Fred Greenwood.