TOPEKA, Kan., Nov. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Leading family footwear
retailer, Payless ShoeSource, is launching a first-of-its-kind national, grass
roots shoe-gifting campaign, the Payless Gives Shoes 4 Kids program, aimed at
delivering $1 million of shoes -- more than 65,000 pairs -- to American
families of children in need through a partnership network of local non-profit
organizations across the nation.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060627/CGTU040LOGO-b)
Payless is giving more than 65,000 $15 gift coupons redeemable through
Jan. 31, 2009, towards a pair of shoes at any of the nearly 4,000 stores
across America (excluding Shopko).
"With the economic challenges in America today, the underprivileged are
hurt more than any other group. Now more than ever, it's important to step up
and help out," said Matthew E. Rubel, Chairman and CEO of Collective Brands,
Inc., which owns Payless ShoeSource. "Footwear is a basic need that many of us
take for granted. Yet a significant portion of children across America need
shoes.
"A great pair of shoes can lift spirits, bolster self confidence and bring
a huge smile to a child's face. We are happy to help families across America
with the Payless Gives Shoes 4 Kids program this holiday season."
Payless said that the impetus to the nationwide shoe-gifting program
included the significant need for children's shoes across the United States
and today's economic crisis. In a tough economy, individual and corporate
giving to charitable organizations tends to slow down at a time when they need
the support the most. Smaller nonprofit agencies that provide direct support
are often, in general, under-supported as well.
Payless took a grass roots approach to ensure direct, diverse and
immediate nationwide coverage in delivering the shoe gifts.
"Holidays can be stressful enough, but in today's economy with rising
unemployment, high gas and food prices, we want to take one thing off parents'
plates and alleviate this basic need for thousands of families this holiday
season," Rubel said.
A Call to Non-Profits Nationwide
Non-profit organizations interested in participating can apply at
http://www.paylessgives.com by completing a short online application.
Selection criteria for non-profit participation includes IRC 501(c)(3) status,
as well as direct access to underprivileged children in local communities
during December. The application process for non-profit partners of the
Payless Gives Shoes 4 Kids program starts today and ends Nov. 21. Selected
partners will be notified and the shoe gift coupons will be distributed in
various quantities to the partners based on the number of constituents they
serve.
Payless will select as many well-suited non-profits as possible to serve
as its partners in the significant grass roots shoe-gifting effort. In early
December the company expects to announce all of its selected partners with an
aim of blanketing the nation in both urban cities with dense populations, as
well as rural regions of the United States.
Greater Horizons of Kansas City will serve as the independent third-party
to manage the selection process based on Payless' core selection criteria.
Greater Horizons, also a non-profit, is focused on helping donors connect with
local and national charitable causes nationwide.
"Our mantra is 'when the causes you care about reach far and wide' and
that fits very well with this new Payless program," said Brenda Chumley,
executive director of Greater Horizons. "We are thrilled to assist in
connecting Payless to the non-profit organizations that make most sense given
the goals of the program -- to get a free pair of shoes into the hands of
underprivileged children across America this holiday season."
About Payless
Payless ShoeSource, Inc., a unit of Collective Brands, Inc., is the
largest specialty family footwear retailer in the Western Hemisphere and is
dedicated to democratizing fashion and design in footwear and accessories and
inspiring fun, fashion possibilities for the family at a great value. As of
the end of second quarter 2008, the company operated more than 4,500 stores.
In addition, customers can buy shoes over the Internet through Payless.com(R)
at http://www.payless.com.
Collective Brands, Inc. (NYSE: PSS) is a leader in bringing compelling
lifestyle, fashion and performance brands for footwear and related accessories
to consumers worldwide. The company operates three strategic units covering a
powerful brand portfolio, as well as multiple price points and selling
channels including retail, wholesale, ecommerce and licensing. Collective
Brands, Inc. includes Payless ShoeSource, focused on democratizing fashion and
design in footwear and accessories through its more than 4,500-store retail
chain, with its brands American Eagle(TM), Airwalk(R), Dexter(R), Champion(R)
and designer collections Abaete for Payless, Lela Rose for Payless and alice +
olivia for Payless, among others; Stride Rite, focused on lifestyle and
athletic branded footwear and high-quality children's footwear sold primarily
through wholesaling, with its brands including Stride Rite(R), Keds(R), Sperry
Top-Sider(R), Robeez(R), and Saucony(R), among others; and Collective
Licensing International, the brand development, management and global
licensing unit, with such youth lifestyle brands as Airwalk(R), Vision Street
Wear(R), Sims(R), Lamar(R) and LTD(R), World Snowboarding Championships(TM),
Sugarboards(R), Carve(R), genetic(R), Dukes(TM), Rage(R), Ultra-Wheels(R), and
Skate Attack(R) brands. Information about, and links for shopping on, each of
the Collective Brand's units can be found at http://www.collectivebrands.com.
About Greater Horizons
Greater Horizons helps donors across the entire Kansas and Missouri region
connect with local and national charitable causes and encourages donors, no
matter where they live, to reconnect with causes in their hometown.
