World’s Largest Shoe House Gets Its Shine Back

As seen on BusinessWire.com:

HELLAM, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Volunteers from Hampton Hotels’ “Save-A-Landmark” program dig in their heels today as they overhaul the World’s Largest Shoe House in Hellam, Pennsylvania. In an estimated 84-hour restoration effort, nearly 20 employee volunteers will clean, prime and paint the five-story work boot; restore its historic stain glass windows; and paint the Shoe House’s fence.


As part of the restoration, Hampton has partnered with Soles4Souls™ – a non-profit organization that collects and distributes shoes for those in need – in asking community members to put their best foot forward by donating their gently used shoes. Shoes can be dropped off at the Shoe House on September 26, any time between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.

“Hellam’s quirky Shoe House has brought smiles to passing motorists for decades, and we’re taking an extra step in this restoration to help those who need new shoes as well,” said Judy Christa-Cathey, vice president of brand marketing for Hampton Hotels. “Hampton is helping to ensure that future generations of visitors will have a chance to stand in the shadow of this gigantic piece of Americana, by contributing nearly $20,000 toward the landmark’s ongoing care.”


The 25-foot tall, 48-foot long Shoe House was originally built in 1948 by Mahlon N. Haines, a famously eccentric local shoe salesman, as an extravagant advertising gimmick. Haines, the “Shoe Wizard of York,” once invited young honeymooners to stay the night in his Shoe House, free of charge. The popular tourist attraction now operates as an ice cream parlor and gift shop, and as a museum dedicated to Haines’ colorful life.

Hampton’s Save-A-Landmark program is continuing its eighth year preserving historical, fun and cultural landmarks, from the Carousel Gardens in New Orleans, La. to the historical National Monument to the Forefathers in Plymouth, Mass. During this time, the program has helped research landmarks in need, promoted landmark sites and their importance, facilitated thousands of volunteer hours, donated several tons of supplies and worked with matching grants — all at an investment of more than $2.5 million. Banding its hotels together in the communities they serve, Hampton employee-volunteers work hand-in-hand on the landmarks while Hampton provides the dollars to refurbish selected sites.

The Save-A-Landmark program is always searching for landmarks in need. Anyone with suggestions can visit the Save-A-Landmark Web site at www.hamptonlandmarks.com and click on “submit a landmark” to enter their nominations – or even just to bring some much-deserved attention to a favorite attraction.


About Soles4Souls
Nashville-based Soles4Souls facilitates the donations of shoes, which will be used to aid the hurting worldwide. Shoe companies, retailers and individuals can donate footwear (both new and used). Soles4Souls is a 501(c)(3) recognized by the IRS; donating parties are eligible for tax advantages. Visit www.GiveShoes.org or call (866) 521-SHOE.

BCNY "Steps Up"

BCNY has donated 60,000 Pairs of Shoes for Recent Natural Disaster Victims to Soles4Souls. It's not the first time that the New York based company has made a substantial footwear donation. Last winter, BCNY donated over 72,000 pairs of children's shoes and slippers to help meet a serious need in Russia and the Ukraine.

So when Soles4Souls asked many of its footwear industry partners to "step up" to help meet the need of recent natural disaster victims, BCNY again responded in a huge way.

"BCNY International has made an incredible donation to help us meet the need of victims in the U.S., as well as Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Peru," said founder Wayne Elsey. "They are donating about 60,000 pairs of new sneakers, sandals, and children's shoes that will make an enormous difference in the lives of people who have been devastated by recent events," he said.

"We would like to make this donation on behalf of all of the BCNY Worldwide Families to those people and families in need," said Evan Cagner, Executive Director of BCNY International. "We are glad that we can help and be part of the solution," he said.

The shoes are en route to assist victims of last month's massive earthquake in Peru and the floods in the U.S. Midwest, as well as people in the paths of hurricanes Dean, Felix, and Henriette.

"I can't recall when we've had so many awful events line up one after the other," Elsey said. "It's amazing that we haven't had to turn anyone away yet, but only because companies like BCNY are helping to meet the massive demand," he said.

To donate your shoes or make a cash donation to Soles4Souls, visit www.giveshoes.org to find out how to help the charity.

At Dallas-area malls, Soles4Souls collects footwear for those in need

As seen in The Dallas Morning News:

All malls encourage you to buy shoes. Town East Mall wants you to bring them back.

Soles4Souls, an international charity dedicated to providing free footwear to needy people around the world, has been collecting gently used shoes at the Mesquite mall and five others owned by General Growth Properties in the area for more than a month.


"It's a great concept," said former Mesquite Mayor Mike Anderson, who dedicated a pair just before his retirement in August. "I hope that a lot of people will visit this booth in the coming weeks."

It seems that the crowds have done just that, as Soles4Souls reports that it has gathered more than 170 pairs at Town East.


"The locals have really shown their support here for this program," said Debi Martinez, a General Growth Properties spokeswoman. "I think that once they walk in and see the booth, and learn a bit about the cause, they are very accepting. Because most people have some older shoes in their closet they never wear anyway."

In all, Town East, Collin Creek, Hulen, The Parks at Arlington, Stonebriar Centre and Vista Ridge malls have collected more than 1,400 pairs of shoes. Ms. Martinez expects a lot more before the drive ends Sept. 30.


"I think there will be a big number of people that were just waiting, and, now that the end is near, they will bring some more shoes," she said.

Ms. Martinez said several outside groups have been collecting shoes to bring in before the drive closes.


Soles4Souls first collected shoes for the region affected by the Asian tsunami on Dec. 26, 2004.

Soon after, the organization put its experience into action for Hurricane Katrina victims, creating a special Web site for the effort and also soliciting donations by word of mouth.

Spreading the word worked wonders. The group collected more than 900,000 pairs to donate for the two disasters.

On October 2005, Soles4Souls formally incorporated, allowing the organization to serve people around the globe.


Town East's marketing manager, Deborah Screws, said the charity represents a great message.

"From the moment the drive started, it is easy to see the excitement that the drive brings," she said. "And you can tell that everyone, from the donating community to the mall employees, is affected by it."


Soles4Souls of Nashville, Tenn., has a distribution center in Las Vegas, where donated shoes are inspected for suitability, sorted, packaged in Soles4Souls boxes and prepared for distribution to a regional partner expressing a need.

Accessorize, Sip and Celebrate!

Chelsea Parkes, the chic & stylish accessories boutique, is inviting Atlantans to a fashion event like none other for their one year anniversary! Join co-owners Nikki Peoples and Darlene Stegall as they Accessorize, Sip and Celebrate!

Come and enjoy the fun while you see the fall's must have shoes, handbags and jewelery! Enjoy complimentary champagne, food and prizes! Plus, save 20% when you bring in a pair of new or "gently worn" shoes to benefit Soles4Souls. The event will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday, September 27-29th from 5-9 p.m.

"This is an exciting event we are having to celebrate our 1 year milestone and benefit Soles4Souls", said Nikki Peoples. "Our goal is to donate 1000 pairs of shoes for every year we are in business. We are really hoping to make this an annual event."

At Chelsea Parkes, you will find a select collection of those essential “pieces” that make your style standout including shoes, handbags, jewelry, belts and more. This boutique is all about making fashion statements through the accessories you wear.

Chelsea Parkes is located in Sandy Springs in the new City Walk Shopping Plaza on Boutique Row with neighbors Sandpiper, Potpourri, and Fabrik.

For more information visit http://www.chelseaparkes.com/.

We receive a lot of wonderful emails from great people. For example:


My name is Candy Brewer and I'm a Marion county foster parent. I'm sending this to say a very special THANK YOU for the shoes that I received for my foster kids. It was a big help to me. Thanks for all you do!


Thanks Candy! We really appreciate it and we are always glad to help.

Madrona Elementary sends thanks

Dear Soles4Souls,



I would like to give a heartfelt "thank you" to your organization and to the people who work with all of you. I am a teacher at SeaTac, WA at Madrona Elementary. We were very blessed through the work of our friend, Joy Laegrid, to receive 60 pairs of shoes from your group and my students were overwhelmed with joy.



The students who attend Madrona have to deal with a variety of hardships daily. Some of these situations involve short supplies of food, clothing and housing. Many also live in neighborhoods that are unsafe and scary to children. Several of our families have parents who are now or have been in the penitentiary system, so they are not able to have familial support on a daily basis. Our students also have a great responsibility to interpret and deal with adult situations for their families and friends.



For our 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students we have started a running/walking club called WISH, so they can learn about healthy nutrition and exercise and see that through clubs and teams they have an opportunity for many great experiences in life. My students were so very happy and excited to receive your generous donation of shoes. They were jumping up and down and prizing these shoes above all others. They didn't want to get them dirty but they wanted to wear them for special events, too.



As an educator and community member, I cannot say "thank you" enough. The joy and help that your organization brought us was overwhelming and amazing. I really want my students to see that we all can make a difference in this world, helping people, showing kindness and doing good. It doesn't matter if we know each person individually, all that matters is that our good deeds touch the lives of many. Thank you for showing them that we can all help each other and that we do it from our hearts without any personal motives.



I hope you enjoy their messages and please know that we will always be grateful and touched by your help, encouragement and kindness to everyone.



Sincerely,

Michelle Brees

SeaTac, WA

Soles4Souls spokesperson named Huggable Hero

Another Amazing Kid and one of this year's Huggable Heroes winner is Sondra Clark. Sondra will be featured in the new Build-a-Bear Huggable Heroes calendar for 2008.

What is a Huggable Hero? A Huggable Hero is a young person 18 years of age or under doing awesome stuff to make a difference in their neighborhood, school or community.
Each year Build-A-Bear Workshop honors Huggable Heroes chosen from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom for their outstanding community service. More than 1,300 entries were received and only ten outstanding kids were chosen.

But that's not all! Sondra recently was named a spokesperson for Soles4Souls. Sondra just visited Guatemala to pass out shoes there. She wants to encourage kids everywhere to get involved in their shoe collection drives, to help donate shoes to people who are in need!

Way to go, Sondra! You continue to amaze us all with your big heart and dedication to charity work!

"Shoe House" Land Mark Saved, Soles4Souls benefits

York County's famous shoe is about to receive a $20,000 remodel, thanks to a hotel giant.

Hampton Hotels' Save-A-Landmark program is coming to Hellam Township to refurbish the shoe-shaped "Shoe House" Wednesday, Sept. 26. Launched in 2000, Save-A-Landmark is a national campaign to refurbish landmarks along highways.

Built by York "Shoe Wizard" Mahlon Haines in 1948 as an advertisement for his shoe store empire, the house will be the 33rd landmark refurbished under the program.

As part of the charitable effort, Save-A-Landmark volunteers are collecting new or "gently worn" shoes for Soles4Souls, an organization that provides shoes to hurricane victims and others who need them.

Shoes can be dropped off at the shoe house, 197 Shoe House Road, before the renovation from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sept. 25, or during the renovation event from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sept. 26.

The Children's Place to host Event for Soles4Souls

Running Numbers on Soles4Souls

Soles4Souls on CityPaper.net in Philadelphia. This is in Running Numbers section, A scholarly look at the digits that matter:

28 - Number of seconds that went by between every pair of shoes distributed by Soles4Souls since January 2005 — more than 2.5 million pairs. The organization, which will hold a shoe drive for new or gently worn shoes at the 30th annual Philadelphia Distance Run Sept. 16, is devoted to collecting and donating footwear throughout the world to those in need. Their slogan: "Changing the world one pair at a time."

Simple Shoes partners with Soles4Souls

Simple Shoes out of Santa Barbara, CA was on the KJEE morning show promoting the Rise Against secret performance concert to benefit Soles4Souls. Those attending the Rise Against concert got free admission by donating a pair of new or gently worn shoes to Soles4Souls.

Simple Shoes also was promoting their new "Eco friendly" ecoSNEAKS. The folks at Simple Shoes collect used car tires that would normally be sent to a landfill, cut them up and use them as outsoles on some of their shoes. They also chop up plastic bottles, melt them down and use it to create the laces and pedbeads in the ecoSNEAKS.

Soles4Souls on NBC Nightly News

Soles4Souls was featured on the NBC's nightly news "Making a Difference" segment last Weekend. The series was conceived in response to viewers who complain that the broadcast features only "bad" news on their nightly news. On Sunday, it was Soles4Souls turn to bring some good news into thousands of American living rooms.

"Making a Difference" showed Soles4Souls staff and founder Wayne Elsey handing out over 300 pairs of shoes to New York City children who needed them. It also talked about the history of Soles4Souls and the role it played in helping the victims of the Asian Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina.

NBC correspondent Rehema Ellis reported, "for Americans that buy a lot of shoes, Elsey says the right thing to do is to donate the more than one billion pairs of shoes that sit idle in closets to people that don't have the same luxuries."

Laced Up, Adidas and Porsche for Soles4Souls?

Atlanta's most prominent sneaker boutique, Laced Up, serves as the catalyst for introducing new-age footwear to the sole connoisseur. Laced Up joins forces with Adidas International and Porsche to introduce the 2008 Porsche Design Driving Shoe at a private, invitation-only soiree that will benefit Soles4Souls, the non-profit organization that facilitates the donations of shoes used to aid the worldwide hurting (http://www.giveshoes.org/).

Guests at the event will be encouraged to bring their new or lightly worn shoes for donation to Soles4Souls. All sizes and types of footwear are welcome, from flip flops to those sturdy boots you no longer wear. The event will take place at the Jim Ellis Porsche dealership, September 20, 2007.

The prominent Jim Ellis Dealership will be transformed into a gentleman's haven, where guest will be privy to the finer things in life including a signature Courvoisier Exclusif Cognac Lounge, an Adidas interactive fashion segment and a sneak peak at the never before seen Porsche Turbo Cab all in ultra-luxe Laced Up fashion. You will not be able to afford it.

Catering the Atlanta's celebrity, athletic, and shoe enthusiast community, Laced Up is assured to leave its shoe print in the city.

For more information on Refined Performance visit www.LacedUp.biz

Soles4Souls Asking Nashville to "Step Up" for Disaster Victims

Wayne Elsey, the Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls™ Inc., is accustomed to seeing 32,000 pairs of shoes come in and out of the charity’s warehouses each week, but the recent natural disasters in Peru, the US Midwest, Mexico, and the current Hurricane (Felix) have left a giant void in the Soles4Souls buildings.

“We can use the shoes taking up space in your closet to change the world one pair at a time,” Elsey said. “We need our partners in North America and specifically our home town, Nashville, to 'STEP UP' and get behind our call for action. It’s one of the most simple yet profound gifts you can make, because it will greatly improve someone’s life in the most difficult of times,” he said.

Nashvillians are asked to clean out their closets and recycle their gently worn shoes and take to area Kroger stores from Tuesday, September 18th to Tuesday, September 25th, from 10 AM- 7 PM. Kroger has generously agreed to host the shoe drive in three Nashville area locations.

Please look for the Soles4Souls trucks in the parking lot of the following Kroger locations:
HERMITAGE: 5544 Old Hickory Blvd., Hermitage, TN 37076

FRANKLIN: 250 Williamson Square, Franklin, TN 37064

BELLEVUE: 7087 Hwy 70 South, Nashville, TN 37221

In addition, people and companies interested in donating to the effort can visit the organization’s website, www.giveshoes.org , and follow the instructions.

About Kroger
Kroger is one of the nation's largest retail grocery chains. The company operates 58 stores and 27 fuel centers in Middle Tennessee.

About Soles4Souls
Nashville-based Soles4Souls facilitates the donations of footwear, which are used to aid the hurting worldwide. Soles4Souls has donated more than 2.6 million pairs of shoes since its inception (one pair of shoes every 28 seconds). Shoe companies, retailers, and individuals can donate both new and "gently worn" footwear. Soles4Souls is a 501(c)(3) recognized by the IRS; donating parties are eligible for tax advantages. For more information about Soles4Souls, please call (866) 521-SHOE, or visit www.giveshoes.org or www.soles4souls.org.

For more information please contact:
Chris Carmichael: 503-319-1726; chrisc@soles4souls.org
Kim Dettwiller, Soles4Souls, 615-330-5656, kimd@soles4souls.org
Alexis Laken: 646-964-5566; alexisl@soles4souls.org

Tennessee Titans supporting Soles4Souls

Nashville, TN - Cumulus Media and ESPN 106.7 The Fan announced the return of Offense/Defense with NFL Running Back Chris Brown and NFL All Pro Safety, Chris Hope. The radio show will air Monday nights at 6:00 PM at Nashville area Applebee’s Restaurant locations.

This will be the second year for the radio show and will feature Chris Brown and Chris Hope discussing the game as well as fan phone calls with host Jonathan Shaffer. Fans are also invited out to watch the show and to meet the players.

The show will be based at several Nashville area Applebee’s Restaurants. The 2007 schedule is :
9/10 Spring Hill
9/17 Opryland
9/24 No Show
10/1 No Show
10/8 Hermitage
10/15 Thompson Lane
10/22 Harding Place
10/29 Madison
11/5 Hendersonville
11/12 Bellevue
11/19 No Show
11/26 Hickory Hollow
12/3 Opryland
12/10 Nippers Corner
12/17 Spring Hill

In addition, Brown and Hope announce their support of the Nashville-based charity Soles4Souls™ Inc., the global organization dedicated to providing free footwear to people in need all over the world. Chris Brown has pledged to donate $100 for each first down and Chris Hope has pledged $100 for each tackle during the 2007 NFL season.

To support Brown and Hope’s charity efforts, Cumulus Media will run Soles4Souls PSA’s recorded by the players for the entire season.

About SOLES4SOULS
Nashville-based Soles4Souls™ facilitates the donations of shoes, which is used to aid the hurting worldwide. The organization has distributed more than 2.5 million pairs of shoes since January 2005 (or one pair of shoes every 28 seconds). Shoe companies, retailers, and individuals can donate both new and “gently worn” footwear. Soles4Souls is a 501(c)(3) recognized by the IRS; donating parties are eligible for tax advantages. For more information about Soles4Souls, please call (866) 521-SHOE, or visit www.giveshoes.org or www.soles4souls.org

For more information, please contact:
Kim Dettwiller, Team Strategies, 615-321-4073, mhtml:%7BD4EE4306-E560-45D3-83DE-927B0E981FD9%7Dmid://00000251/!x-usc:mailto:kimdet@comcast.net