Two Ten Newsletter - Summer 2015

Newsletter | Summer, 2015

Contents:

Footwear Cares® : Getting people back on their feet

Footwear Cares®

Footwear Cares, the country’s first-ever industry-wide, month-long community service campaign, finished the way it began on April 1 – with a flourish. Just under 7,000 volunteers from 110 companies took part in 100 service events during April.

Getting people back on their feet

WIFI National Summit Inspiration from Liz Rodbell

New York Golf A tradition continues

Two Ten/Pensole Capsole Scholarship Building the future of footwear

Zappos Zalloween Raising Funds for Two Ten

Real Shoe People.

Real Shoe Stories.

Good things to come

Brilliant Board Additions Leslie Gallin and Louise Camuto

Letter from Neal Thanks from all of us!

With support from title sponsor Amazon Fashion, Two Ten proudly partnered with 75 local, regional and national charitable nonprofits across 23 states to provide volunteer opportunities to the footwear industry with one single objective: getting people back on their feet.

No small deed went unnoticed. Together volunteers from the footwear community helped to: • pack or prepare 540,000 meals to feed children, families, seniors, and the disabled.

• donate or distribute 12,570 pairs of new shoes to children.

• participate in 25 environmental projects to enhance our coastlines, nature trails, community parks, and recreation facilities.

• provide 3,256 low-income children with clothing.

• dedicate 1,303 volunteer hours to conservation projects including Habitat for Humanity builds, painting projects, and restoration works.

Impact: Last 90 Days

HOUSING

150

Evictions Prevented

“It’s a tribute to the people who work in our industry that Footwear Cares has achieved such amazing success” says Neal Newman, President Two Ten Footwear Foundation.

“Footwear Cares gives all of us the chance to say thank you and come together in a way that will forever change lives – our own and the lives of those people we touch.”

Thank you to Amazon Fashion, returning title sponsor of Footwear Cares, and to the thousands of volunteers who made Footwear Cares 2015 such a success!

To get involved in Footwear Cares 2016, contact Maureen Lederhos, Director of Marketing at mlederhos@twoten.org.

New York Golf

Zappos: Raising Funds For Two Ten

This year’s New York Golf Tournament, sponsored by New Balance, raised nearly $60,000 to provide much needed emergency aid to footwear families. After 75 years, this tournament continues to celebrate what it means to be part of the footwear community.

2015 marks the fifth year that the Zappos Family has dedicated proceeds from Zalloween, the annual golf tournament and Sell-a-Thon, to Two Ten. As of last year, the Zappos team and their brand partners have raised over $1 million for emergency relief!

First Golf Tournament, 1940 “I love this tournament. I can connect with old friends and colleagues, create new business opportunities and know at the end of the day, we are all there to give back a little something to those in need in our industry. It really is a feel good day,” said Danny Schwartz, CEO of Schwartz & Benjamin and a tournament regular.

“Our partners are wonderful,” says Kate Kaplan, Two Ten Director of Development. “Companies like Zappos, Wolverine, Caleres, and Payless have been instrumental in our success. This really is shoepeople helping shoepeople. The industry raises the funds which go to shoe families in crisis all over the country.”

Zapponians Matt Thomas, Larry Roos, and Derek Flores have taken the lead on the Zappos projects, along with Zappos VP and Two Ten Board Member Steve Hill. Larry Roos particularly values the work he does for Two Ten. “My dad [Chip Roos] has been in shoes for nearly 40 years so it’s a big priority for me when I can give back each year,” Larry explains. “The footwear industry is like a second family to me, and Two Ten is part of that.”

This year, the Zappos Sell-a-Thon is taking place during the month of August, and brands can contribute to both the Sell-a-Thon and the Zalloween golf tournament together if they so choose.

Check out zappos.com/zappos-4-210 for more information.

Two Ten/Pensole Capsole Scholars

Team New Balance We are so thankful to New Balance and our other incredible sponsors and partners who support Two Ten through these events. For more information about future golf events, contact Kelli-Beth Vecchione, Asst. Director of Development at kvecchione@twoten.org.

Impact: Last 90 Days

UTILITIES

131

Families Received Emergency Utility Support

“Young professionals represent the future of our industry, and our CAPSOLES program offers the specific industry insight, knowledge and inspiration they need to prepare for new roles and become future leaders,” said D’Wayne Edwards, former Design Director for Jordan Brand. He founded Pensole to give talented young design students an opportunity to learn from the industry’s best.

This year, a partnership with FN Platform will bring Pensole’s CAPSOLES to the industry’s largest trade show, making the classes available to footwear designers and product managers throughout the industry. Two Ten is awarding two scholarships (Two Ten | LIFT Scholarship @ Pensole) to cover tuition costs of the classes.

“The best way to build a strong footwear industry is to develop our homegrown talent,” said Neal Newman, Two Ten’s President. “Pensole is an important partner with us in that endeavor by providing our industry with a farm system of creative young talent – the future creative leaders of our footwear community.” For more information contact Joe Ingram at jingram@twoten.org.

WIFI National Summit

Real Shoe People. Real Shoe Stories.

Ever wish you could ask the president of a large and successful company for advice?

This June, 120 women in footwear gathered to do just that with Liz Rodbell, President of Hudson’s Bay Company and Lord & Taylor at the Two Ten WIFI National Summit. Liz spoke about a wide range of topics including, mentoring, teamwork, communication and the importance of giving back. Women supporting women was a thread that wove through each of the topics discussed.

In every issue, we include a letter from one of the many shoe people we work with each year.

Karen* received financial assistance from Two Ten a few months ago, and was kind enough to share her story.

“As leaders in the industry, we have a lot to offer,” said Liz. “We were all helped by somebody and are consistently helped in our careers. We owe it to those who are coming up in the business … to make sure that we’re available to help them.” You can see Liz’s full talk at www.twoten.org/wifi.

Tina Aldatz, author of From Stilettos to the Stock Exchange, signed books at the event with a portion of proceeds going to WIFI. Thank you to summit sponsors: FFaNY, Delta Airlines, Hudson’s Bay Company and Savvy Traveler. Special thank you to Footwear Plus and Footwear News.

Mentoring, supporting and educating women is the cornerstone of Two Ten WIFI (Women in the Footwear Industry). As the preeminent women’s group in the footwear industry, WIFI aims to provide a vehicle through which women can encourage one another to thrive both personally and professionally. To learn more visit www.twoten.org/wifi.

2015 VIP DINNER & AWARDS CEREMONY TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2015

A.A. Bloom Award Debbie Ferrée T. Kenyon Holly Award Vince Camuto (posthumously) Social Impact Award Kevin Donahue

2015 GALA A Night of Celebration & Entertainment WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2015

“We were facing a financial disaster. Soon after my husband learned he would need expensive surgery that would keep him out of work for months, our mortgage payments went through the roof. There was no way I could manage all the house and medical bills on my income alone. I really felt that there was no hope and feared we might lose our house.

While at work one day, I received an email from Two Ten reminding me of the many ways they help people in footwear; so I decided to call them after my shift. I was very nervous; I felt like I was asking for a hand out, which puts you in a very vulnerable and scary position. Your future is now being decided by someone else, a stranger, and any control that you thought you might have is gone.

With a lump in my throat I made the call and began to tell my story to the kind voice on the other end of the line. It was like she could tell that I was afraid.

She began to explain to me the process and took her time to make sure that I was comfortable.

After several minutes of questions and answers, I was shocked when she told me that they were cutting me a check that day to help with my mortgage!

No lengthy decision process, no “we’ll get back to you,” no “you don’t qualify.” Just a warm, caring person giving help that was needed, and way more help than I thought I would get.

The Two Ten Footwear Foundation is a wonderful organization. They have caring people there who will do what they can to help. I am so appreciative that their assistance was available to me, and I cannot thank them enough for the aid they gave me in my family’s darkest time.”

- Karen *The name has been changed to protect the recipient’s true identity.

Two Rockstars Join Our Board of Directors We are thrilled to announce the addition of Louise Camuto, Chief Creative Officer of Camuto Group and Leslie Gallin, President of Footwear at UBM Advanstar to the Two Ten Board of Directors.

“Our industry will benefit so much from the addition of Louise and Leslie to the Two Ten Board,” said Diane Sullivan, CEO, President and Chairman of Caleres and Vice Chair of the Two Ten Board of Directors. “Both bring a wealth of knowledge to the organization and leadership that will help guide us in finding more ways serve the footwear community. We look forward to their contributions – we know they’ll be fantastic.”

“Louise and Leslie bring a fresh, coastto-coast perspective to Two Ten,” said Neal Newman, President of Two Ten. “Their expertise, networks and visibility will help us raise our profile on the west coast and in new markets.”

Neal (center blue) with Footwear Cares® partners from Finish Line and Elevate in Indianapolis, IN

Dear Footwear Friends, John Ruskin, the Victorian-era art critic and thinker once said, “A little thought and a little kindness are often worth more than a great deal of money.”

In the age of the selfie, I think Ruskin has still got it. Kindness and caring defines the footwear industry. It’s who we are. Our footwear community has, for 76 years, united behind a simple, yet profound purpose – caring for those less fortunate.

As we just closed our financial year on June 30, I can proudly report Two Ten delivered a record $2.4M of emergency financial assistance and college scholarships to thousands of footwear families.

In addition to the emergency financial help, our footwear community has been working hard. Just shy of 7,000 shoepeople from Maine to California, participated in the third annual Footwear Cares®. It was a fantastic success.

I’d also like to send a special thank you to our great volunteers who help us raise funds from golf events in New York, St. Louis and this year in Charlotte NC. Plus, the Zappos-4-210 Campaign has now raised over $1 million to help shoe people in need! And our industry’s main event, the Two Ten Gala, supplies relief aid to hundreds of footwear families. This year’s events are on Tuesday, December 1st and Wednesday December 2nd – take note for your calendars.

Caring never goes out of style – it is a lifestyle and a virtue well-worth preserving in our industry and our country. I can hardly say thank you enough. It’s you – you, as donors, investors, friends, committee members, volunteers – who make all of this possible.

As always, I encourage you to be in touch. Send us your stories of the footwear industry and share your stories about Two Ten. Thank you and I hope you enjoy our summer newsletter,

Upcoming Events: August 03 - WIFI Boston August 06 - WIFI Breakfast @ Outdoor Retailer August 11 - Caleres/St. Louis Golf Tournament August 12 - WIFI Columbus August 18 - WIFI Vegas October 19 - Two Ten/Atlanta Shoe Market/

Belk Charlotte Golf Tournament October 22 - WIFI St. Louis

Neal Newman, President | nnewman@twoten.org

Two Ten Footwear Foundation | Shoepeople Helping Shoepeople ®

WWW.TWOTEN.ORG | 1466 Main St. Waltham, MA 02451 | 781-736-1500