Brown’s Shoe Fit Co. & Acts of Jax: A Summer of Community and Kindness
From the Inaugural Legacy Launch to Tax Free Weekend
This summer, Brown’s Shoe Fit Co. has been proud to stand alongside Acts of Jax, a Waterloo-area nonprofit fund built on one young man’s courage and the kindness he inspired. From the inaugural Legacy Launch & Golf Outing in July to Tax Free Weekend in August, we’re honored to help carry that momentum forward — and to invite our community to be part of it too.
Who Is Acts of Jax?
The Acts of Jax Fund honors Jaxton Engstrom and his courageous battle with Batten disease by carrying forward a lasting legacy of compassion and service. Administered through the Waterloo Schools Foundation, the fund provides financial support to students and staff to design and carry out meaningful acts of kindness — efforts that may take place within school buildings or extend into the broader community, fostering a culture of empathy, inclusion, and genuine human connection.
Through each act of kindness, the initiative keeps Jaxton’s spirit alive, reflecting the profound and enduring impact he has had on those around him. The goal is simple but powerful: transform inspiration into action, cultivate empathy, elevate student and staff voices, and demonstrate the measurable, lasting impact of compassion. Ultimately, Acts of Jax aims to create a ripple effect — honoring the lives Jaxton has touched while inspiring an ongoing commitment to kindness across the community.
The Waterloo Schools Foundation serves as the fiscal sponsor for Acts of Jax, providing fiduciary oversight and financial management for the fund.
The Inaugural Legacy Launch
& Twilight Golf Outing
Acts of Jax kicked things off in a big way on July 18th at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course in Cedar Falls, with the Inaugural Legacy Launch & Twilight Golf Outing. The evening opened with a celebration of Jaxton’s graduation from Waterloo West High School and the official launch of his legacy fund, followed by a short presentation and a 5:00 p.m. shotgun start — four-person teams playing nine holes of best-shot golf.
Brown’s Shoe Fit Co. was glad to be part of that first event, and by every account, it was a success. The Acts of Jax team celebrated a strong turnout and thanked everyone who helped pull the event together in just a couple of months, with plans already underway to make next year’s outing even bigger. The funds raised are now going toward rolling out Acts of Jax’s first acts of kindness across Waterloo Schools.
“We already have plans in the works to make this a better and bigger event next year. In the meantime, we are excited to take the funds we have raised so far and really start to roll out Acts of Jax.”
— Acts of Jax
Tax Free Weekend
The momentum continues this Tax Free Weekend, as Brown’s Shoe Fit Co. teams up with Acts of Jax once again — this time at the register. It’s the perfect time to stock up on back-to-school shoes, tax-free, while helping fuel a fund that’s just getting started in changing the culture of kindness in Waterloo Schools.
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Dates | August 7–8 |
| Location | Brown’s Shoe Fit Co., 1515 Flammang Drive, Waterloo |
| Giving Back | 10% of sales donated to Acts of Jax |
How to Support Acts of Jax
Can’t make it in for Tax Free Weekend but still want to help carry Jaxton’s legacy forward? You can give directly to the fund through the Waterloo Schools Foundation. All donations made through the fund are tax-deductible.
You can also follow the fund’s story and see the acts of kindness it’s inspiring on the Acts of Jax Facebook page.
A Local Loop Partnership
Partnerships like this one are what Local Loop is all about — local businesses and local causes, working together for the community they both call home. From the first golf outing to Tax Free Weekend, we’re honored to play a small part in keeping Jaxton’s spirit of kindness moving forward.
