Good Sole - Shoes That Fit

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Good Sole
J. Michael Fay
Secretary/Treasurer
Charles W. Freitas
Stephen J. Horoshak
Evie Lazzarino
Lucia Miltenberger
Patti Salwak
Vice-President
President
RETIRED FOUNDER
Elodie McGuirk
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
Michele Love
STAFF
Executive Director
Michelle Siegel
Development Director
Lee Kane
Program Manager
Jackie was presented with her $1,000 prize at an award
ceremony June 23 at the Radison
Hotel in Philadelphia. And, Jackie is
using that money in the way that led
her to receive it in the first place.
Amanda Sloan
Technical Administrative
Manager
Deanna Glick Lacques
Program Coordinator
Newsletter Editor
PUBLISHED BY:
Shoes That Fit
For your convenience, you can
reach us in many ways . . .
Phone:
(909) 482-0050
Toll Free: (888) 715-4333
Fax:
(909) 482-0085
Email: [email protected]
Address all correspondence to:
Shoes That Fit
“I am donating this prize to a school
in Philadelphia,” Jackie said. “I want
to give each child that is starting
school a new school bag filled with
school supplies. I thought that this would
be something different for the children this
year. Children love to have new materials
especially when they are starting school.”
Jackie, you are truly a good sole!
Shoes That Fit ®
1420 N. Claremont Blvd.
Suite 107B
Claremont, CA 91711-3400
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Shoes News
A
N E W S L E T T E R
S H O E S
T H A T
C
ongratulations to Jackie
Trask, our dedicated
volunteer from Acme
Markets in Philadephia, for
winning the company’s Corus
Award. The annual honor is
given to one out of 6,000
employees in recognition of the
recipient’s devotion to helping
those in need.
John Schack
Roni Lomeli
Shoes
That
Fit®
To u c h i n g t h e l i v e s o f s c h o o l c h i l d r e n i n n e e d s i n c e 1 9 9 2
This issue of Shoes News made possible by a generous donation from Claremont Print and Copy
FALL 2004
Kids Helping Kids
. . . Teens from California
to Florida make a difference
F
or Jenny Hyman, a Shoes That Fit volunteer in
Los Angeles, the children she helps are like
starfish thrown back into the sea, one by one.
She heard the story long ago: An old man sitting on
the beach, throwing starfish into the water, when a
little girl asks why he bothers trying to save them
“There are so many. How can you possibly make a
difference?” the youngster asks. The man responds
by throwing another starfish in the water. Then, he
says, “I made a difference to that one.”
This is the philosophy that has led 17-year-old Jenny
to oversee shoe drives through Milken Community
High School that have made a difference for more
than 300 kids in need. She is one of several teens
from California to Florida, who are invaluable volunteers for Shoes That Fit. For some, Shoes That Fit fulfills the volunteer project required for graduation. For
others, it’s the perfect Bar or Bat Mitzvah project. For
Jenny, it’s a way of life, “Shoes That Fit is different in
that it was easy for me to do what I did, says Jenny,
who has volunteered for many causes and organizations. “I felt a direct connection to the kids I was
helping and that’s why I love the organization.”
PAID
CLAREMONT CA
PERMIT NO. 43
1420 N. Claremont Blvd.
Suite 107B
Claremont, CA 91711-3583
We take Credit Cards . . .
to make it easier for you to
support our efforts.
Call or visit our website to donate
www.shoesthatfit.org
F O R
F I T
Francesco and Bianca Amato with some of the shoes they have collected.
Bianca and Francesco Amato feel the same way.
They head up a Shoes That Fit chapter in Broward
County, Florida. Their work has resulted in several
shoe drives through their church for the past two
years and thousands of shoes for students at several
elementary schools. “I like being teenagers helping
younger people through Shoes That Fit because we
get to have contact with them,” 15-year-old Bianca
says. “This is something me and my brother can do.”
The Amatos run the program by retrieving names of
schoolchildren in need from local social workers and
posting the information on a Shoes That Fit bulletin
board at St. Gregory’s Catholic Church. The siblings
often speak during mass to encourage church members to visit the bulletin board and purchase shoes
for a child. They have also recently obtained sponsorship for children from Auto Nation and are looking forward to helping more children in need in the
coming year.
For more information on how teens can participate
in Shoes That Fit, please call toll free, (888) 715-4333
or e-mail us at [email protected].
Jenny Hyman helped more than 300 kids in need.
Our
Mission
The mission of Shoes That Fit
is to help build the self-esteem of
schoolchildren in need by providing
them with new shoes and clothes.
From the
Executive Director
W
Make
Shoes That Fit
part of your
legacy
If you believe in the mission
of Shoes That Fit and want to
help us continue to help more
children in need, please consider
a gift that will extend beyond
your lifetime. A few of the ways
that you can make Shoes That
Fit part of your
legacy are:
• Remember Shoes That Fit
in your will or trust.
• Make Shoes That Fit a
beneficiary of your
retirement plan.
• Bequest property to
Shoes That Fit.
Your gift would ensure that we
continue to help more children
in need.
For more information, please
e’re gearing up for our 14th
season of helping children, and
although I sometimes get overwhelmed at the thought of the growing
number of children in need, I am equally
overwhelmed by how many children we
have helped and will be able to help. We recently ran the numbers
and found that Shoes That Fit provided more than 74,000 pairs of
shoes and clothing items for children in need last school year.
The calls have already started coming in with stories of children
who will start their first day of school in shoddy shoes or even bare
feet if not for a pair from our emergency warehouse. Thanks to the
Elodie McGuirk Emergency Clothing Fund, established in honor of
our founder, we have been able to partially stock our warehouse
and help these children who have nowhere else to turn. Thankfully,
several loyal volunteers have already signed on to help with shoe
drives and sponsorships to fulfill the anticipated local demand that
comes during the back-to-school season and lasts through the
winter holidays.
We often marvel here at the office about all our volunteers do for
children. Lately, we’ve been noticing how many of those volunteers
are children themselves. Volunteers who can’t count too many
birthdays beyond the children we serve are working like crazy
gathering shoes and clothes for children who are less fortunate
than they are. From Florida to California, young volunteers are
making a big difference. Please read about them in this issue’s
cover story. They are amazing!
We have also been fortunate to receive donations from generous
sponsors, including Division Six Sports, Nordstrom, Diana Tolliver,
Nike, New Balance & And1.
Also, Toyota employees in Torrance, California provided 150 pairs
of new shoes for children at Oak Street Elementary School in
nearby Inglewood. Read about it on page 6.
And so, as we embark on this 14th season of helping children,
I am also overwhelmed by all of the generous support that Shoes
That Fit continues to receive from donors and volunteers. We are
nothing without you. And we are extremely grateful that you are
part of the Shoes That Fit family.
Paving The Way
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the
following corporations and foundations that have
helped Shoes That Fit make a difference in the lives of
more than 74,000 children during the 2003-04 season:
American Foundation For Courtesy
& Grooming
B.C. McCabe Foundation
California Community Foundation
California Sporting Goods
Association
Music Center of Los Angeles
New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc.
Newman's Own
Nike, Inc.
Nordstrom
Change A Life Foundation
Northrop Grumman Corp.
Charter Oak Foundation
Northrop Grumman ECHO
Cole Haan
Ontario Community Foundation
Division Six Sports
Pfaffinger Foundation
Employees Community Fund
of Boeing, CA
Sidney Stern Memorial Trust
Fashion Footwear Association
of New York
The Ahmanson Foundation
Finish Line Youth Foundation
The Barry and Wendy Meyer
Foundation
Greater Long Beach Foundation
Hamilton-White Foundation
J.B. and Emily Van Nuys Charities
James L. White Foundation
John S. and James L. Knight
Foundation
Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris
Foundation
KTLA 5 Charities Fund
Los Angeles Lakers Youth
Foundation
Swanton Foundation
The Goldsmith Family Foundation
The Henry W. Bull Foundation
The Horn Foundation
The Looker Foundation
The Men's Wearhouse
The Rose Hills Foundation
Tiger Woods Foundation
Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc.
Vons Foundation
Majestic Realty Foundation
Weingart Foundation
Max Factor Family Foundation
Ziv Tzedakah Fund, Inc.
contact Roni Lomeli, Executive
Director, in the Shoes That Fit
office at (888) 715-4333, or email
her at [email protected].
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Make your
gift a lasting
memory
Have you already
forgotten what you
received for the holidays
or your last birthday? Is
the sweater too tight or
the tie too gaudy? Are
the toys already broken
or the batteries dead?
Why not make your next
gift a lasting and memorable one? Next time,
make a gift donation to
Shoes That Fit in honor
of your loved ones. We’ll
send them a letter
acknowledging your gift
and a thank you note
from a child. Or, request
that your loved ones
send a donation to Shoes
That Fit in lieu of a gift
to you. Either way, you’ll
be providing new shoes
and clothes to children
in need so that they can
attend school in comfort
and with dignity. It’s a
gift these children will
never forget.
For more information
about how to help,
call the
Shoes That Fit office at
(888) 715-4333
or visit our website at
www.shoesthatfit.org.
Roni Lomeli,
Executive Director
Shoes That Fit FALL 2004
FALL 2004 Shoes That Fit
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Toyota Party Helps
Shoes That Fit Kids
T
oyota employees in Torrance, California
turned a service hanger into a real
summer shindig July 30, complete with
barbecue, music, and red and white checked
tablecloths. But the best part was the 150
pairs of new shoes for children and an
additional gift of $5,000 for Shoes That Fit.
“The people who work here are very generous,”
said Diane O’Neal, chair of the event and a
member of Toyota’s Associate Involvement
Committee. The IAC, as it’s called, is part of
Toyota’s commitment to being a good corporate
citizen and is charged with boosting morale and
job satisfaction. “It’s the first time we combined
our summer barbecue with a fundraising event
and it was a huge success.”
E-mail
us!
A
s part of our ongoing
effort to increase communications with our
donors and volunteers, Shoes
That Fit would like to increase
the use of e-mail to send and
receive information quickly and
inexpensively. Please send an
email to [email protected]
so that we can ensure your address
is included in our database!
6
Each pair of shoes was placed in a festive red
Toyota bag along with a red Toyota key chain
for the kids. After the party, the shoes were
piled into a truck and delivered to Oak Street Elementary
School in
nearby
Inglewood.
Oak Street has
more than
1,000 students,
78 percent of
whom are on
the free or
reduced lunch
program. The
school was
thrilled to
receive the
shoes.
“We’re just happy we can give back to the community,”
said Diane. “The fact that we’re making a difference –
it moves us all to tears.”
Shoes That Fit FALL 2004
STF Founder’s Legacy Continues
W
hen Elodie McGuirk founded Shoes That Fit at one
Pomona school over 12 years ago, she never dreamed
that her simple idea would end up helping nearly
300,000 children nationwide. Although Elodie retired in 2002,
she remains an inspiration to all of us. Now, we commemorate
her good work with the Elodie McGuirk Emergency Clothing
Fund. This fund will be used to assist children with immediate
needs, such as a child who must stay home from school because
they do not have appropriate clothing. We especially want to
thank Elodie for her donation in loving memory of her mother,
Olga. These contributions established the Elodie McGuirk
Emergency Clothing Fund, and will help Shoes That Fit provide
WISH LIST
W
e always need new
shoes and clothes for
emergency requests for
elementary age children. If you can
supplement your regular shopping
with a new item or two, please
consider our list of needs!
new shoes and clothing for the children who need them most.
To make a donation to the Elodie McGuirk Emergency Clothing
< Boys’ and girls’ new athletic
shoes, sizes youth 10 through
adult size 9.
Fund, please visit our website at www.shoesthatfit.org or call us
at (888) 715-4333 for more information.
+
A Family Affair
Socks for shoe sizes youth
10 through adult size 9.
i Underwear
P
hilanthropy is much more than simply writing a check. It is
truly a person-to-person effort upon which Shoes That Fit
depends. Making a family commitment to help on a
regular basis can create a closer family bond and
widen the circle of people who care. Involving
children in supporting Shoes That Fit has benefits
far beyond helping us provide new shoes and clothing
and better lives for children in need nationwide:
_
Giving demonstrates to children the value
of love and respect for others.
_
Volunteering helps children build self-esteem.
_
Including children in philanthropy efforts guides
them on a path of knowledge, compassion and
involvement.
Please call the Shoes That Fit office at (909) 482-0050 or
(888) 715-4333 or email us at [email protected] for more
information on how to involve children in our program.
FALL 2004 Shoes That Fit
< Uniform clothing for school:
navy blue pants or jeans,
and skirts, white shirts or
blouses with collars.
+
Assorted clothing for school:
pants or jeans, knit shirts,
sweaters, and hooded
sweatshirts.
i Winter coats, boots,
rainwear, umbrellas, mittens
and hats.
< Target, Payless, WalMart,
and any other major retailer
gift cards.
We are always on the lookout for
businesses and service organizations,
wishing to sponsor a local school in
their community. Please contact us if
you know of a group interested in
participating!
3
Kids Say It Best!
Take the step
to be a Sole Mate
One of the joys of a Shoes That Fit delivery is
watching the children’s faces and see their
sincere appreciation for that new pair of
shoes or warm coat. Many students send
us thank you notes.
If you have received one that has
especially touched your heart, please
send us a copy so we can share it.
Make Your Gift Keep On Giving
W
e want to thank Joanne Glauser and Robert
Johnson for making it possible for Shoes
That Fit to benefit from
matching funds
from their
employers. MBNA
America Bank’s
Volunteer
Incentive Program
donated $1,000 to
Shoes That Fit of
Newark, Delware in
recognition of
Joanne’s volunteer
work with the STF
chapter there. Pfizer
Foundation’s
Matching Gift
Program donated $50
in addition to Robert’s
$100 donation.
Our new Sole Mate program allows
you to make monthly donations
automatically through your debit
card, credit card, or bank fund
transfer. No checks, no stamps, no
mailboxes. You decide how much
and how often you’d like to give
and we’ll automatically charge your
card on the date you choose. You
can stop these transactions at any
time. To honor a loved one with
your donation, just let us know and
we’ll send the appropriate acknowledgements. Shoes That Fit will have
a reliable cash flow each month and
you won’t have to risk forgetting
children who need your support.
Become a Shoes That Fit Sole Mate
today. Visit our web site at
www.shoesthatfit.org or call
our office at (909) 482-0050 or
tollfree at (888) 715-4333.
Thanks to matching
gift programs, Joanne’s
and Robert’s donations
grew to enable Shoes
That Fit to help more
children. Please, talk to
your human resources department to find out if
your employer has a matching gift program. You
could end up making your donation or volunteer
work do twice as much to help those who are less
fortunate!
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Shoes That Fit FALL 2004
FALL 2004 Shoes That Fit
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