31-year-old entrepreneur motivates students

(WMC-TV) - As part of February's "Black History Month," Action News 5 is spotlighting young African-Americans who are already making an impact in our community.

Edward Bogard owns his own shoe design company. He also adopted two inner-city schools. In addition, he is using his skills to help the homeless.

Students say Bogard is a welcomed face around Cherokee Elementary School and Hanley Elementary School, which are the two schools his company adopted.

"I think he's doing a good job," said Areun Talley, who is in 5th grade.

A "good job" at inspiring students, helping them and others through his company, SoGiv, which is a nonprofit that gives a portion of its shoe sales to a variety of schools and causes.

"We support 17 different causes, everything from homelessness to education," said Bogard.

Bogard showed students a special "geography shoe" he designed, which helps teach the shapes of the world's seven continents.

"Kids are able to get kind of a geography lesson out if it, right? And learn their seven continents," explained Bogard. "You'd be surprised how many adults don't know their seven continents."

At 31 years old, Bogard is also motivating kids to follow him into the world of designing and marketing

Areun Talley, 10, says seeing Bogard's design skills motivates him to follow his dream of designing protective mouth pieces that he can one day market to football players.

"I would like to make a mouthpiece with Gatorade in it and freeze it and sell it to football players," said Talley.

For Bogard, giving back comes easy. He credits his mom, a teacher for 35 years who was always giving away clothes and food. Bogard says it is now his turn to give back.

For more information about Bogard's company, SoGiv, click here: http://sogiv.org/