Foot Locker employee buys shoes for boy

LEESBURG, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - When we show up to the Footlocker at Via Port Mall in Leesburg, 10-year-old Jonas Nielsen is quick to start showing us his new sneakers.   Air Jordan Nike's so precious to him, he didn't even wear them to school today because they had gym.  

Jonas says, "I really don't want to get them dirty!  I use Kleenex wipes, I even use a toothbrush!"

You see, Jonas wasn't even supposed to have these shoes.  When he showed up at the Leesburg Footlocker a week-and-a-half ago with his mom, he put the $95-sneakers on and wished for a pair.

"He was like 'Oh, I like these!'  And I said, 'I don't know why you're making her work, because you're not getting those-we can't afford them right now," mom, Gigi Pena. 

That's when Footlocker employee Jadyn Brammeier Vasquez stepped in.  She overheard the conversation. She recognized the look on young Jonas' face.

"I went over to her and asked her, 'Do you think it would be OK if I bought these for him?'  She hesitated and said,'No.'  I asked again and said, 'It's Christmas.' And she said 'OK.'" explained Vasquez. 

Jonas says, "It just brightened my whole day...and it was my birthday and she didn't know." 

Mom posted a picture of Jadyn and her son on Facebook, to praise Jadyn.  Mall management says the response has huge.  Vasquez said when she was Jonas' age, she was in foster care and never got a pair of fancy sneakers from Footlocker...not until she was adopted last year. 

And now, Jonas plans to take Jadyn's lead.  He plans to make millions, he says, playing professional football, and said with a smile and a lot of pride, "I'm going to donate most of it!"