Heart & Sole

For nearly 75 years, whenever shoepeople have needed a helping hand, Two Ten has been there. Our legacy of “shoepeople helping shoepoeple” drives everything we do today. In the last 12 months, we have helped thousands of footwear people get back on their feet during their time of need – because of your generosity.

In this new feature, we would like to introduce you to shoepeople who have chosen to share their stories and thanks. This month we are featuring Two Ten Scholar Sydney and Two Ten relief aid recipient, Claudette.

Sydney C. – Two Ten Scholar
Ripon College, Class of 2015
Politics and Government & Economics

“My name is Sydney, and this year I became fortunate enough to receive one of the Two Ten Scholarships.

For two summers, I worked for Red Wing Shoe Company in Red Wing, MN as a summer temp in the factory, and it was an experience! My dad is a full-time supervisor at S.B. Foot and Tanning in Red Wing, MN, and many years ago, my mom also worked for Red Wing Shoe Company in the Accounting Office. You could say that the shoe industry has been embedded into my family’s lifestyle for many years now. Red Wing Shoe and the Tannery both have been great companies for my family to work for, especially for me as college student seeking working experience and new opportunities.

When it came to my education, I personally chose to seek out a private education in an effort to gain one-on-one interactions with my professors, small classroom sizes, and a closer sense of community within my education. I love my college and the knowledge I am receiving both in Politics and Government and Economics, but it’s worrisome to think about the debt that accompanies this wonderful opportunity. I am very fortunate to have scholarships and grants through my school, but it doesn’t cover everything.

With the help of foundations like the Two Ten Footwear Foundation, the financial burden of higher education is eased for students like me in an ever growing and competitive world.

Claudette M.
Relief Aid Recipient
Baker Footwear

“I learned a long time ago how to live simple and within my means…my grandparents showed me this. However, when the “means” are cut, fear and frustration can set it. I feel so fortunate and grateful that the foundation has approved to assist me in my time of need. I feel like I have won a showcase on “The Price is Right”!

Thank you,
Claudette M.

Help Us Reach Our Financial Goal

Two Ten Footwear Foundation is the footwear industry’s national charitable foundation — the only foundation of its kind in the United States and 100% funded from the footwear industry for the footwear community. Since its inception in 1939, we have provided financial support and professional resources, but we have never before seen the call for help rise to the current level.

We are ready to help, but we need your continued support to do it. The end of our fiscal year is June 30 and I ask that you consider making a gift to enable Two Ten to carry on its important work for our colleagues who need us. You can feel good knowing that 100% of your gift will be used to strengthen America’s footwear community by providing emergency financial assistance at times of crisis; college scholarships for footwear employees and their children; and other social and career services.

Warm regards,

Neal Newman
President
Two Ten Footwear Foundation

P.S. When we give, no matter the amount, we empower others. We are shoepeople helping shoepeople®

Ars Sutoria Classes Return to Two Ten

This September, renowned Italian technical footwear design training school, Ars Sutoria, will once again be offering their unique Footwear Product Development training program for the eighth consecutive year and we could not be more excited to have them. This is a great opportunity to gain insight from some of the most knowledgeable minds in footwear and help put your design and development career on the fast track.
“You can’t put a price on the depth of knowledge you get from Ars Sutoria,” says Lauren Fox, Associate Designer, Brown Shoe Co. She was one of the 20 students who took part in the class at Two Ten’s offices in Waltham, MA this past February. As a result of the class, the students came to gain a greater understanding of the production process associated with different types of shoe construction and were also given a deeper knowledge of the materials used in each stage of the process. “In short, this class combined years of experience concentrated into a one week program,” says Ry Avery, Product Developer at Nunn Bush, who received a Two Ten $2500 scholarship to participate in the special offering.

Topics that will be addressed during this five-day intensive product development program will cover but not be limited to: fundamentals of shoe making, analysis of the footwear families, cemented construction process, overview of design and pattern making, analysis of upper, middle and bottom components, leathers, textiles and synthetics, outsoles, footwear constructions, overview of materials for moulded outsoles and mould manufacturing, last analysis, pattern making, fit issues, and tips and tricks to cut costs.

The Ars Sutoria program is led by Paolo Marenghe and Wendy Sani who travel from Milan to teach courses at Two Ten and FFaNY.  The next course offering at Two Ten will be on September 9-13, 2013. To learn more about the program, please visit www.arssutoria.com. Pictures from last February’s class can be found on our facebook page. 

FFaNY Wrap Up.  Your Community, Your Foundation.

Two Ten’s community groups were more active than ever at spring FFaNY this year.  The footwear community spent the day learning best practices at the HR Leadership Summit, networking with Shelly Lazarus, Chairman Emeritus, Ogilvy & Mather and  Women In the Footwear Industry at WIFI National, and celebrating the accomplishments of Bob Goldman, CEO of Chinese Laundry at the Young Professionals Gatsby Gala.  Thank you for joining us.  You are what makes Two Ten a success, allowing us to help shoepeople in need 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

Visit www.twoten.org for All Pictures and information on our upcoming events.

Watch Our New Video – “We Are Two Ten”