Footwear Industry’s Charitable Foundation Will Engage Fashion Division Of The World’s Largest Online Retailer To Help Disadvantaged Children Across The U.S.

WALTHAM, MA – March 3, 2016 – Two Ten Footwear Foundation, the national charitable foundation serving the footwear industry, announced today that Amazon Fashion will return as the Title Sponsor for Footwear Cares 2016, the Foundation’s national community service program that brings the footwear industry together through volunteerism.

Now in its fourth year, Footwear Cares partners with local, regional and national charitable nonprofits to develop unique volunteer opportunities for footwear industry employees across the country. This year the initiative will focus on helping disadvantaged children by distributing new shoes and hosting events, programs and activities that will benefit the most vulnerable in our communities.  The 2016 campaign will include working with child-centric nonprofits like Children’s Trust and Shoes That Fit, in addition to food pantries, after school programs and more.

“Amazon Fashion is proud to continue our support of the Two Ten Footwear Foundation and its Footwear Cares initiative for a third consecutive year,” said Dana Luthy, GMM Shoes & Luggage, Amazon Fashion. “Last year, more than 100 footwear companies and 7,000 volunteers joined together, spending thousands of hours working to provide resources to non-profit organizations across the country. We are excited to be part of this impactful event and are especially pleased to help make a difference in the lives of children in need.”

Neal Newman, president of the Two Ten Footwear Foundation, said “Helping people in times of crisis has been a core tenet since our founding 75 years ago. The generous support of Amazon Fashion, as the title sponsor of Footwear Cares, enables us to engage thousands of employees from footwear companies across the country as volunteers, to reach more people and affect more communities.” He added, “This year is even more critical as we harness the strength of our industry to impact the lives of disadvantaged children. With 1 in 5 children living in poverty in the U.S., this crisis touches all of us.”

Highlights from National Footwear Cares 2015

Over 7,000 individuals from 110 footwear companies came together in community service, engaging 75 local non-profits in 24 states. The highlights from the combined work included:

• 540,000 meals were sorted, packed, prepared or served to feed children, families, seniors, and the disabled.
• 12,570 pairs of new shoes were distributed to children in need.
• 25 environmental projects were completed to enhance our coastlines, nature trails, community parks, and recreation facilities.
• 3,256 disadvantaged children were outfitted.
• 1,303 volunteer hours contributed to conservation projects including Habitat for Humanity builds, restoration projects, and various beautification works.

About the Two Ten Footwear Foundation

Founded in 1939, the Two Ten Footwear Foundation is the national charitable foundation of the footwear industry. We bring shoepeople together to support each other during times of crisis and to build a sense of community that ensures a bright future for our industry’s workforce. We provide emergency financial assistance, scholarships, counseling services and community building programs that changes the lives of thousands of shoepeople in the United States every year. For more information, please visit www.twoten.org.