New Balance Foundation Commits $1.05 Million to Support Footwear Employees Through Two Ten Footwear Foundation

Funding will support hardship and disaster relief programs, as well as professional development and affinity groups for footwear industry employees. 

WALTHAM, MA (July 24, 2025) ―Two Ten Footwear Foundation is proud to announce a $1,050,000 commitment over three years from the New Balance Foundation (NBF) to support its mission to lift the lives of footwear employees across the United States.  

The gift consists of an annual contribution of $350,000 from 2025 through 2028. The funding will power Two Ten’s core programs, including disaster and hardship relief, as well as initiatives focused on professional development and community-building through industry affinity groups. 

Founded in 1939, Two Ten Footwear Foundation provides emergency financial assistance to industry employees facing hardship or disaster; offers employees and their families free access to mental health, legal, and financial counseling services; awards college scholarships to footwear employees and their dependents; makes educational grants to industry employees seeking upskilling and professional development; and convenes leadership councils and networking/affinity groups that connect professionals across the industry. Two Ten programs support the more than 330,000 footwear employees and their families across the country.   

The New Balance Foundation, established in 1981 by Jim and Anne Davis, supports community-led organizations that champion active lifestyles and healthy communities where New Balance associates live and work. NBF’s mission is investing in vibrant communities and bright futures through sport. To date, The Foundation has donated more than $150M and contributed $12.4M in 2024 alone. New Balance Foundation has been a key supporter of Two Ten’s mission of lifting lives in footwear for 30 years to the tune of $4.67M. 

“Supporting Two Ten Foundation’s commitment to offering hope and opportunity to those in the footwear community is in line with our mission to invest in vibrant communities and bright futures,” said Molly Santry, Director of Global Philanthropy with New Balance Foundation. “We’re proud of our longtime relationship with Two Ten and are grateful for the support and programming they provide to the communities we both serve.”

On the corporate side, New Balance CEO and President Joe Preston currently serves as Two Ten Foundation’s Board Chair. A donor since 1999, and a board member since 2019, Preston brings longstanding support to the organization. Melissa Worth, Senior Vice President of Americas at New Balance, is a founding member of Two Ten’s Women in the Footwear Industry (WIFI) Advisory Board, which was recently recognized at Two Ten’s annual gala for reinvigorating the WIFI community over the past two years. Other leaders from New Balance serve on the WIFI Leadership Council.

“We are deeply grateful to the New Balance Foundation for their continued leadership and generosity,” said Shawn Osborne, President and CEO of Two Ten Footwear Foundation. “This investment will directly support thousands of footwear families facing a disaster or crisis as well as help footwear employees grow personally and professionally. New Balance Foundation has been a longstanding champion of our mission, and this gift ensures we can continue to deliver hope, opportunity, and community across our industry.” 

About the New Balance Foundation

The New Balance Foundation invests in vibrant communities and bright futures through sport. Since 1981, New Balance Foundation has invested in proven pathways to help young people achieve their goals. Our grantmaking focuses on community-led, outcomes-driven initiatives that promote access to sport, educational support, career readiness and overall well-being. We have granted over $150 million USD to date to trailblazing non-profits across the globe. This includes more than $12 million USD in donations to 90 non-profits in 2024 alone. Learn more about New Balance Foundation at https://www.newbalance.com/new-balance-foundation/our-mission/.  

About Two Ten Footwear Foundation

Two Ten Footwear Foundation is an independent nonprofit with a unique mission: serving the U.S. footwear community. Since its founding in 1939 at 210 Lincoln Street in Boston, MA, Two Ten has offered hope, opportunity and community to generations of footwear families. Two Ten brings people working in footwear together to support each other, building a feeling of community and strengthening the industry workforce. Learn more about the Foundation and its impact at https://twoten.org