A Valley student turned her love of art into a mission to support others.
Pia Sachdev has big dreams and gets started early.
“I colored it with colored pencils so that it was exactly what I wanted,” says Pia Sachdev.
At 16, Pia started her own program called Sneakers for Smiles, donating a pair to someone in need.
Pia says she’s always had a love for shoes, but it grew during the pandemic.
She tells ABC15 that she started painting and customizing sneakers for fun, making them for the family and selling them on Etsy. Then, she had the idea to offer them.
The first pair went to an acquaintance who was ill with an illness.
“I thought, why not paint some shoes for him and brighten up his day a bit,” Pia says.
That’s when Sneakers for Smiles was born.
Soon after, her brother was admitted to Phoenix Children’s, so she decided to work with the hospital.
“I just realized, if it was that scary and he was there for about a week and a half, what about all the patients who have been there for about six months, long term?” said Pia.
Pia is now working with someone from the Child Life Department at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
She doesn’t meet the patients, but finds out what they like, including their favorite color and interests.
“I feel like painting them really makes them personal. It makes them even more special,” says Pia.
Even with a busy schedule, she says she wants her shoes to “brighten their day and always feel supported.”