TOMS Company Overview

The TOMS Story:

TOMS Shoes was founded in 2006 by Blake Mycoskie, while on a trip to Argentina.
Seeing for the first time the extreme poverty of the area, he noticed that most of
the children were without shoes. Blake wondered how the lives of these children
would be improved by having something that most of the world takes for granted,
and he quickly set out to build a unique business model to do exactly that.
Recreating the traditional Argentinean shoe, the alpargata, for the U.S. market,
Blake’s goal was simple: to show how together, we can create a better tomorrow
by taking compassionate action today.
To realize this mission, Blake made a commitment to match every pair of TOMS
purchased with a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One. “I was so
overwhelmed by the spirit of the South American people, especially those who had
so little,” Mycoskie said. “I was instantly struck with the desire — the responsibility
— to do more.”
Giving:
Only six months after starting TOMS, Blake returned to Argentina with family and
friends and gave 10,000 pairs of new shoes to the children who had first inspired
him. As of September 2010, TOMS has given over 1,000,000 pairs of new shoes
to children in need through giving partners around the world. TOMS now gives in
over 20 countries and works with charitable partners in the field who incorporate
shoes into their health, education, hygiene, and community development programs.
Awards and Recognition:
It didn’t take long for the world to notice the One for One movement catching
TM

on — in 2007, TOMS Shoes was honored with the prestigious People’s Design
Award from the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Two years later, Blake and TOMS received the 2009 ACE award by Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton, which recognizes companies’ commitment to corporate social
responsibility, innovation, exemplary practices, and democratic values worldwide.
Seventeen Magazine
November 2010
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