Berman Family Donates $300,000 to Two Ten Footwear Foundation to Pilot Special Circumstance Relief Fund

WALTHAM, MA (January 20, 2026) – Two Ten Footwear Foundation (“Two Ten”) is excited to announce a $300,000 commitment from the Berman family, led by Managing Director and Founder of Micro-Pak Ltd and Two Ten Board member Martin Berman, to support U.S. footwear employees and their families facing extreme hardship. 

This transformative gift will allow Two Ten to pilot a special circumstance fund designed for footwear industry employees and their families who are facing extraordinary, time-sensitive hardships that exceed the scope of Two Ten’s standard financial relief program. These exceptional circumstances may include catastrophic medical events, housing loss, natural disasters, funeral expenses, or other significant crises that threaten household stability. Individuals facing such challenges will be eligible to receive additional financial assistance from Two Ten through this fund. 

“Martin and his family’s longstanding dedication to our mission is underscored by this extraordinary gift to help those in our community facing the direst of circumstances,” said Shawn Osborne, President & CEO of the Two Ten Footwear Foundation. “This pilot fund will bring new meaning to our impact and our ability to offer hope and stability to individuals and families during their most challenging moments.” 

Martin Berman is the Managing Director and Founder of Micro-Pak Ltd, the largest supplier of anti-microbial and desiccant packaging materials for the footwear industry. Martin joined the Two Ten Board of Directors in 2010 and has been a longtime champion of the Foundation’s mission. 

“Serving on the Two Ten Board has shown me how vital timely financial assistance can be for individuals and families facing unexpected hardship,” said Berman. “With this investment, I hope to deepen the Foundation’s impact by extending additional help to those who need it most.” 

Eligibility for grants from the new fund will be determined by Two Ten staff and based on several criteria, including the urgency of the need, the financial impact on the household, and whether the situation falls beyond the scope of Two Ten’s standard support programs. The special circumstance relief fund will be distributed over three years, between 2026 and 2028. 

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About Two Ten

Two Ten Footwear Foundation is an independent nonprofit with a unique mission: lifting lives in footwear. Since its founding in the 1930s, Two Ten has offered hope, opportunity and community to generations of footwear employees and their families. The Foundation provides emergency assistance in times of disaster or hardship, awards higher education scholarships, supports employee upskilling and professional development, and convenes industry councils and networking/affinity groups. Two Ten brings people working in footwear together to support each other, building a sense of community and strengthening the industry workforce. Visit twoten.org to learn more about Two Ten and its impact.