TOMS staff and volunteers visited New Orleans in April and August of 2009.

Incubus front man Brandon Boyd and Venice, CA artist Kristin Klosterman teamed up with TOMS to create one-of-a-kind canvases that have been transformed into a limited-edition collection of TOMS. Visit http://tinyurl.com/nhtcff for more info. Brandon Boyd, Incubus, TOMS, artist TOMS, custom painted shoes, limited edition sneakers, limited edition TOMS, artist series, Kristin Jai Klosterman, TOMS shoes, Blake Mycoskie, hand painted shoes, hand painted TOMS,

In Ethiopia alone, it is estimated that 11 million people are at risk for Podoconiosis, with between 500,000 and a million people already affected. There is one simple solution to this global problem... shoes. With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One.

Spring '09 interns Justin and Ryan went sans shoes to raise awareness of the global need for shoes. Walking through sandy beaches and busy streets, they experienced what many children experience every day. Ten miles later they arrived at TOMS headquarters for a fabulous day at the office.

Feb 2009 TOMS Shoes and Element Skateboards are thrilled to announce the launch of a One for One Collaboration this month to compliment their spring collections. Both influential brands are teaming up to help children around the world by giving shoes and skateboards using the TOMS One for One model¬ – shoes to protect feet from disease and skateboards to provide an alternative to the hardships of their daily life. With every pair of shoes purchased, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. As part of the One for One Collaboration, for every skateboard purchased, Element will give a skateboard to a child in need. The collection includes three limited edition women’s shoes, two men’s shoes and two skateboards; one performance deck and one longboard. When TOMS Shoes Founder and Chief Shoe Giver Blake Mycoskie, and Element Founder Johnny Schillereff crossed paths, they realized their passions paralleled and their combined efforts could only strengthen the power of their messages. Both Element and TOMS, companies with roots in honest and ethical business, felt the One for One model would be the best way to create the greatest good to help those in need. “While selling shoes and skateboards, the collaboration will hopefully inspire people to operate on a business model that is more socially aware,” Blake says proudly. “We would like to be examples of how small and large companies can work together in an unconventional way to make a difference.” Johnny agrees, “Yes, we’ll give away a lot of shoes and skateboards, but like Blake said, more importantly, other people will see this happening and will learn from the experience. Hopefully the idea of sharing and helping will become viral.” Element and TOMS are looking forward to the launch of this One for One Collaboration and planning their first collaborative Shoe and Board Drop in Durban, South Africa, one of the world’s most dangerous cities. Element has already made a footprint in Durban by giving significant monetary and product donations to the Indigo Skate Camp, a safe haven for children as an alternative to their daily life on the streets in Durban. As of June 2009, TOMS has given over 140,000 pairs of shoes to children in Argentina, South Africa, Ethiopia and the USA.

April 16th is One Day Without Shoes, a day to bring awareness to the impact a pair of shoes can have on one's life. FACTS - In some developing nations, children must walk for miles to food, clean water and to seek medical help. - Cuts and sores on feet can lead to serious infection. - Often, children cannot attend school barefoot. - In Ethiopia, approximately one million people are suffering from Podoconiosis, a debilitating and disfiguring disease caused by walking barefoot in volcanic soil. - Podoconiosis is 100% preventable by wearing shoes. JOIN US - On April 16th, go barefoot on the way to the water cooler, walking to the mailbox, in an afternoon meeting or on your lunch break; go barefoot for the entire day or long enough to raise awareness. - Attend a shoeless event in your area. Visit www.TOMSshoes.com/OneDay for times and specific locations. - Share One Day Without Shoes with all your friends on MySpace, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook by updating your status and posting a bulletin. - Buy TOMS Shoes and join our One for One movement! For every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of shoes to a child in need. One for One. Purchase yours today!

Produced by Ken Kokin (Usual Suspects and Sundance Winner, Public Access), the TOMS Shoe Drop experience is beautifully documented to reflect the One for One mission, "For every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of shoes to a child in need." The first Shoe Drop took place in Argentina in October of 2006, when TOMS Shoes Founder and Chief Shoe Giver Blake Mycoskie and his team brought 10,000 pairs of shoes to distribute to children in need.

Go Barefoot! - April 16th