ArT Community Studio.com

THE ART OF LIVING AND GIVING ARTICLE OF THE MONTH

toms masters the art of giving

Art Community Studio is proud and excited to announce our new affiliate, TOMS.

If you haven’t heard of TOMS that’s okay. We are looking to inform as many people as possible of this Company. Once you learn the story of TOMS, you will be touched by one man's generosity and social awareness.

TOMS shoes, which stands for Tomorrows Shoes, was created by Blake Mycoskie. After traveling in Argentina and witnessing children walking around with no shoes to protect their feet, Blake came up with the "One for One program." For every pair of shoe he sells, he is able to provide a pair shoes to a child in need. With the support of his family and friends, Toms first Shoe Drop consisted of 10,000 pair of shoes made possible by his caring customers.

With Blake's vision, coupled with the social awareness of his company, TOMS has given over 150,000 pairs of shoes to children in need, and planning to give 300,000 pairs of shoes in 2009. TOMS has touched children’s lives throughout the world. Amazing results, for a basic idea of giving One for One.

Many of us take for granted a simple item like shoes. Could you imagine growing up without shoes? Some children continue to walk barefoot, exposing themselves to dangerous items, some of which are scattered on the ground. Many other children are exposed to harmful diseases like phoconiosis, just because they do not have shoes. Unfortunately, this is a reality for so many children in the world.

By supporting TOMS with a purchase of a pair of shoes, or other merchandise, you will be giving a gift of not only shoes but hope and joy to a child. Can you imagine being part of a child’s happiness just by buying an item for yourself or a loved one?

One reason I feel so strongly about TOMS is because I was raised by a single parent. Growing up, I remember the struggle she had to provide shoes for her two children. In our town we had a shoe factory that sold irregular shoes at the shoe outlet. Some of the outlet shoes did not make the grade to be sold in a store. So yes, they were a price she was able pay. I remember the first time going and seeing the bins of shoes, some of the which looked like they should have been thrown in the trash. Some even had big holes in the soles. My brother and I pointed these out to our mom, and let her know how unhappy we were having to purchase our shoes at the Outlet.

My mother let us know that we were lucky to have shoes, because “some children don’t have any shoes." How true was that statement? After hearing that, we made it a game to find a good pair of shoes. I will always be thankful to my mother for teaching me to be grateful for what I do have.

Blake Mycoskie, known as TOMS Chief Shoe Giver, describes himself as a social entrepenur. Personally, I believe he is more than the self-described title. With his generosity, he has impacted the world, while expossing his passion for social responsibility. A man to emulate.

I knew my first purchase of many from TOMS would be a hat. I just knew I needed to keep this story close to my mind. As I write this story, I am wearing my new hat, and removed it to let you know the inscription under the brim. It is inscribed as follows: "Your purchasae of this hat will provide a pair of shoes to a child in need. One hat = one pair of shoes = two happy people." How true is that !

Hopefully you will join us and help support this worthwhile Company and all the good they do for children in need of footwear. It is our goal to see how many shoes we can provide to children in need. Your purchase through this link will enable us to tally how many shoes our visitors have helped provide to needy children. In turn, we can keep providing this forum for art and social awareness.