Two Outstanding Industry Leaders Will Be Acknowledged For Their Personal And Professional Contributions At The Foundation’s 81st Annual Gala
Two Ten Footwear Foundation, the national charitable foundation of the U.S. footwear industry, announced tonight the recipients of its two most prestigious awards during its Gala kick-off cocktail party at the Bryant Park Grill Rooftop. Two outstanding leaders will be honored at the Foundation’s 81st Annual Gala, chaired by Skechers, on Wednesday, June 6, 2022 at the Pier 60 in New York City.
The T. Kenyon Holly Memorial Award will be presented to Cliff Sifford, CEO of Shoe Carnival for his outstanding humanitarian achievement. OrthoLite Founder and CEO Glenn Barrett will receive the A.A. Bloom Memorial Award for his years of service to Two Ten Footwear Foundation.
“This year Two Ten honors two remarkable, philanthropic leaders of the footwear industry,” said Shawn Osborne, CEO and President of Two Ten Footwear Foundation. “Cliff and Glenn are being recognized for their extraordinary philanthropic achievements that have made a meaningful difference in the world, demonstrating time and again that kindness and caring are at the core of our industry community.”
About the Two Ten Awards and the 2021 Honorees
Cliff Sifford will receive the T. Kenyon Holly Memorial Award, Two Ten’s highest honor for outstanding humanitarian achievement. This award is presented to an individual in the footwear, leather or allied industries who exemplifies the spirit and character of the late T. Kenyon Holly, past president of Two Ten Footwear Foundation. In addition to his years of service and support for Two Ten, Cliff is a committed philanthropist both personally and professionally. Under his leadership, Shoe Carnival is involved with eight local charities in Evansville, Indiana that concentrate on life support needs like food, clothing and shelter, and the well-being of children and their families, in addition to supporting several national charities including Two Ten. Cliff’s commitment to affecting change is truly a model to follow for leaders in the footwear industry and beyond.
“To receive this award, to be in the company of all of the incredible recipients before me, is an honor beyond words,” said Sifford. “Extending help to the community in whatever ways I can has just always been the right thing to do. I am fortunate to be in a position to encourage others to do the same, and hope it sets an enduring and inspiring example.”
For his years of service to Two Ten, honoree Glenn Barrett will be honored with the A.A. Bloom Memorial Award, which was created in the spirit of the late A.A. Bloom, one of the founders of Two Ten, to honor an individual who has given greatly to Two Ten through his or her initiative hard work, dedication and unselfish actions. Currently a Two Ten Board member and Chair of the Major Gifts and Development Committees, Barrett has worked tirelessly to fundraise on behalf of the Foundation. Most recently, Barrett and his wife Midge committed $500,000 to Two Ten’s COVID-19 Crisis Relief Fund. When the footwear industry was hit hard by the pandemic with 60% of the industry laid off or furloughed, this substantial donation provided quantifiable relief for those experiencing insurmountable financial hardship.
“I am humbled to receive this honor,” said Barrett. “The shoe business is small and we all know each other at some level. I feel incredibly fortunate to give back to the industry and the individuals that have given me so much.”
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ABOUT THE TWO TEN FOOTWEAR FOUNDATION:
The Two Ten Footwear Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides crisis and hardship relief, access to mental health counseling, educational scholarships, and other vital services to employees in the U.S. footwear industry. Two Ten started as a simple gesture of compassion in post-depression 1939 by a few industry workers who passed a hat to take up a collection for a fellow shoe person who needed help. In the 82 years since that first act of kindness, Two Ten has evolved from its humble beginnings at 210 Lincoln Street in Boston to a national charitable foundation that has provided millions of dollars in support and services to generations of footwear employees and their families. For more information please visit www.twoten.org.
ABOUT SHOE CARNIVAL
Shoe Carnival, Inc. is one of the nation’s largest family footwear retailers, offering a broad assortment of dress, casual and athletic footwear for men, women and children with an emphasis on national name brands. Headquartered in Evansville, Indiana, Shoe Carnival has 378 stores in 35 states and Puerto Rico, in addition to its online store at www.shoecarnival.com.
ABOUT ORTHOLITE
OrthoLite, headquartered in Amherst, Mass., is the world’s #1 supplier of open cell foam technology found in more than 500 million shoes across all categories each year from brands such as Adidas, ASICS, Bata, Clarks, Cole Haan, Converse, Danner, ECCO, Everlane Jordan, Kenneth Cole, Lacoste, New Balance, Nike, Reebok, Rothy’s, Sanuk, Timberland, Toms, Wolverine and Vans. OrthoLite has a long-standing history of meaningful partnerships and sponsorships that
