Shoe Station Group Foundation Commits $1 Million

Shoe Station Group Foundation Commits $1 Million to Support Relief and Education for Footwear Employees Through Two Ten Footwear Foundation

Three-year pledge will fund college scholarships and emergency disaster relief for footwear industry families.

WALTHAM, MA (November 17, 2025) ― Two Ten Footwear Foundation (“Two Ten”) is proud to announce a three-year, $1 million commitment from Shoe Station Group Foundation, the charitable trust of Shoe Carnival, Inc., to support U.S. footwear employees and their families.

The commitment includes $100,000 to establish the Shoe Station Endowed Scholarship, which will provide up to $4,000 – renewable for up to four years – to help footwear employees and their dependents pursue higher education. The remaining $900,000 will fund emergency relief grants to help footwear families recovering from natural disasters. The three-year pledge will be delivered as annual contributions from 2026 through 2028.

Two Ten Footwear Foundation serves the nation's 330,000 footwear employees through financial assistance, scholarships, professional development, and community programs. In its most recent fiscal year, Two Ten provided over $1.1 million in disaster relief to footwear families recovering from crises, including rapid response support following Hurricane Helene, which impacted footwear employees across the Southeast.

Shoe Carnival, Inc. has been a partner in Two Ten's mission to lift lives in the footwear industry for more than 30 years, having contributed over $1 million to Two Ten prior to this latest commitment. Mark Worden, President and CEO of Shoe Carnival, Inc., has served on Two Ten's Board of Directors since 2024.

“We are deeply grateful to Mark Worden and the Shoe Station Group Foundation for this transformative commitment to our mission of lifting lives in the footwear industry,” said Shawn Osborne, CEO of Two Ten Footwear Foundation. “This generous gift will directly impact footwear employees and their families, helping them recover from disaster, pursue higher education, and build stronger futures.”

“Having served on Two Ten's board, I've witnessed firsthand how this Foundation supports footwear families through disaster and opens doors to education," said Mark Worden. "When someone loses their home in a hurricane or gets the chance to be the first in their family to attend college, Two Ten delivers impact that changes lives. This $1 million commitment reflects our belief that investing in our industry's people is fundamental to who we are as a company.”

“It's always meaningful when leaders step up to support the people who drive our industry forward. Mark and his team exemplify the generosity of our footwear community and their investment in the wellbeing of footwear employees and their families makes us all proud,” said Joe Preston, CEO of New Balance and Board Chair of Two Ten Footwear Foundation. “Acts of philanthropy like this not only make it possible for Two Ten to have real impact but demonstrate the kind of leadership and collaboration that make our industry thrive.”

About Shoe Station Group Foundation

Shoe Station Group Foundation is the charitable arm of Shoe Carnival, Inc., one of the nation's largest family footwear retailers. The Foundation reflects the company's commitment to supporting footwear industry employees and the communities where team members live and work. The Foundation's expanded partnership with Two Ten demonstrates the company's enduring dedication to lifting lives in the footwear industry.

About Two Ten Footwear Foundation

Two Ten Footwear Foundation is an independent nonprofit with a unique mission: lifting lives in footwear. Since our 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 our impact.