I always have high regards for labels that make an effort to make this crazy world a better place each day. In this world overdosed with greediness and helplessness, it's nice to know that there are still companies who without equivocation gives significance to the act of giving and helping the impoverished. And TOMS is definitely part of that league.
About TOMS Shoes: In 2006, American traveler Blake Mycoskie befriended children in a village in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS Shoes, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One. To date, TOMS has given over one million pairs of new shoes to children through giving partners around the world. And a little trivia: there is no TOM. Again, the founder's name is Blake. TOMS is actually an abbreviation for "Shoes for a Better Tomorrow", but they couldn't get that on the back of the shoe, so they shortened it to TOMS.
But why give shoes?
(this is an example of a pair that TOMS whole-heartedly gives to underprivileged children)
Because in many developing countries, children must walk barefooted for miles in going to school, in fetching clean water and in asking for medical help. Hundreds of millions of children are at risk for injury, infection and soil-transmitted diseases that most can't afford to prevent and treat. In giving shoes, TOMS not only addresses these children's physiological nees. Shoes have value beyond being critical for physical health. Many schools in developing countries require shoes for attendance (part of the uniform). And on that note, these shoes give them a better chance of improving the future of their entire community because access to education is a critical determinant of long-term success.
Because in many developing countries, children must walk barefooted for miles in going to school, in fetching clean water and in asking for medical help. Hundreds of millions of children are at risk for injury, infection and soil-transmitted diseases that most can't afford to prevent and treat. In giving shoes, TOMS not only addresses these children's physiological nees. Shoes have value beyond being critical for physical health. Many schools in developing countries require shoes for attendance (part of the uniform). And on that note, these shoes give them a better chance of improving the future of their entire community because access to education is a critical determinant of long-term success.
TOMS currently give shoes in 24 countries: Philippines, United States, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Haiti, Honduras, Peru, Argentina, Mali, Niger, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Swaziland, Lesotho, Ethiopia, South Africa, Malawi, Armenia, Mongolia, China and Cambodia. TOMS also don't give once and then just leave. They keep giving. Kids grow out of shoes, so TOMS strive to set up a sustainable giving partnerships that allow them to give repeatedly to these children as they grow (every six months).
Here in the Philippines, TOMS teamed up with these non-government organizations..
and was already able to provide shoes to children in these cities/provinces..
Watch the video below and see how TOMS shares their wonderful advocacy to our children here in the Philippines.
Here in the Philippines, TOMS teamed up with these non-government organizations..
and was already able to provide shoes to children in these cities/provinces..
Watch the video below and see how TOMS shares their wonderful advocacy to our children here in the Philippines.
