INDUSTRY NEWS

NASHVILLE, Tenn. and PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti—Soles4Souls Inc., the charity dedicated to providing free shoes to people in need, has announced that it has distributed its ten millionth pair of shoes. The charity discovered it had crossed the milestone and tracked the distribution to one at an emergency shelter built for 90 orphans in Leogane, a city at the epicenter of the January 12 earthquake that killed 250,000 people.

"The only number that matters to this child is one pair of shoes," said Wayne Elsey, founder and CEO of Soles4Souls. "We are marking this milestone to give credit to our incredible partners in the footwear industry and the everyday heroes at home who have made a tangible difference in the lives of hurting people. It is appropriate that this pair is being given during Barefoot Week, which is our annual call to action for people to learn about how they can get involved in our mission," he said.

Soles4Souls has committed to distributing 1.3 million pairs of shoes to Haitians who are working to rebuild their nation, and is rolling out an aggressive plan to provide long-term solutions to the victims of the shattered country. This means providing new shoes and clothing, but also sustainable housing and access to micro-enterprise solutions. The charity is partnering with dozens of respected charities in Haiti and the U.S. to offer micro-enterprises and will sponsor small businesses opportunities for hard-working entrepreneurs in Haiti.

Soles4Souls has received support from thousands of footwear companies, Hollywood celebrities, musicians and professional athletes. The charity began when Elsey, a former footwear executive, responded with resources at his disposal to help victims of the Asian Tsunami.

To learn more about the charity and its initiatives in Haiti and around the world, visit www.giveshoes.org.

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