SOLES4SOULS REACHES $2 MILLION MILESTONE IN DONATIONS FROM DESIGNER BRANDS INC. CUSTOMER ACTIVATIONS

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Soles4Souls, the organization committed to turning shoes and clothing into opportunity around the world, has reached a milestone of more than $2 million in donations from Designer Brands Inc. customers to-date. The monetary donations come from donations at the register in DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse and The Shoe Company stores, and DSW customers turning their VIP points into dollars for Souls4Souls, combined with donations from Designer Brands Inc.

“Designer Brands and their customers continue to amaze us with how passionate they are about providing shoes to those who need them most,” said Soles4Souls President and CEO Buddy Teaster. “Our partnership is a huge reason we’ve been able to make the impact we have as an organization, and we are so grateful to DSW, The Shoe Company and their customers for their generosity.”

Donations from customers and partners like Designer Brands support the four main programs of the Soles4Souls mission: 4Opportunity, 4EveryKid, 4ThePlanet and 4Relief. In 2023, Soles4Souls has been able to expand our 4Opportunity program into new countries like the Dominican Republic, respond to short and long-term relief needs, and provide news shoes to children experiencing homelessness across the United States.

“At Designer Brands, we are committed to advancing empowerment of individuals, removing barriers and helping them put their best foot forward,” said Doug Howe, Chief Executive Officer of Designer Brands. “Our strong partnership with Soles4Souls enables us and our customers to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people in need around the world. We look forward to making even greater strides with Soles4Souls in helping to provide powerful and sustainable ways for people in need to lift themselves and their families out of poverty.”

In U.S. DSW stores, VIP Rewards members will receive a bonus $5 reward when they donate gently used shoes in-store now through February 3. For more information, please visit our partnership site.

Soles4Souls turns shoes and clothing into educational and economic opportunities. Our programs, 4Opportunity, 4Relief, 4EveryKid and 4ThePlanet, aim to make a positive difference on the planet and in people’s economic, educational, physical, and psychosocial well-being. Since 2006, more than 94 million pairs of shoes and pieces of clothing have helped create opportunities for people across 137 countries. Soles4Souls is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, with Regional Donation Centers and warehouse locations around the world. Visit soles4souls.org for more information.

Designer Brands is one of the world’s largest designers, producers and retailers of the most recognizable footwear brands and accessories, transforming and defining the footwear industry through a mission of inspiring self-expression. With a diversified, world-class portfolio of coveted brands, including Crown Vintage, Hush Puppies, Jessica Simpson, Keds, Kelly & Katie, Le TIGRE, Lucky Brand, Mix No. 6, Topo Athletic, Vince Camuto and others, Designer Brands designs and produces on-trend footwear and accessories for all of life’s occasions delivered to the consumer through a robust direct-to-consumer omni-channel infrastructure and powerful national wholesale distribution. Powered by a billion-dollar digital commerce business across multiple domains and nearly 640 DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse and The Shoe Company stores in North America, Designer Brands delivers current, in-line footwear and accessories from the largest national brands in the industry and holds leading market share positions in key product categories across Women’s, Men’s and Kids’. Designer Brands also distributes its brands internationally through select wholesale and distributor relationships while also leveraging design and sourcing expertise to build private label product for national retailers. Designer Brands is committed to being a difference maker in the world, taking steps forward to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the footwear industry and supporting a global community and the health of the planet by donating more than nine million pairs of shoes to the global non-profit Soles4Souls. To learn more, visit www.designerbrands.com.

###

Jamie Ellis, jamiee@soles4souls.org

Kelly Brockman, kelly@mcneelybrockmanpr.com