630 Agencies Representing 50 States Chosen for First-of-its-Kind National, Grass Roots Campaign; Program Launches Today with Nearly 67,000 $15 Gift Coupons Dispersed to Partners; Kids Start Shopping for Free Shoes TOPEKA, Kan., Dec. 4
TOPEKA, Kan., Dec. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Leading family footwear
retailer, Payless ShoeSource, announced today that 630 nonprofit partners
located in small towns, mid-size and large cities and rural areas representing
50 states and the District of Columbia have been chosen for its Payless Gives
Shoes 4 Kids program, a national, grass roots campaign aimed at delivering $1
million of shoes to American children of families in need.
Payless is giving nearly 67,000 $15 gift coupons redeemable through Jan.
31, 2009, towards a new pair of kids' shoes at any of the more than 3,600
stores across the United States*.
Nonprofit partners chosen from Los Angeles include Eastside Boys And Girls
Club Of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Boys & Girls Club, Para Los Ninos, 1736
Family Crisis Center, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, and Union Rescue
Mission.
Payless said that all partners should receive their gift coupons packages
today along with a personal letter from Matthew E. Rubel, chairman and chief
executive officer of Collective Brands, Inc., which owns Payless, with a
special request to get the coupons into the hands of the children that need
them in time for the holidays. The quantity of gift coupons per agency was
based on agency size and the number of constituents served. Packages landing
today include as many as 200 coupons for some agencies. Many agencies will
also provide transportation for group shopping trips to the local Payless
stores.
"Kids will start shopping today for their free shoes," said Rubel. "A
great pair of shoes can lift spirits, bolster self confidence and bring a huge
smile to a child's face. The recipient children can actually select their own
shoes -- which will be an even more inspiring experience for them. Together,
with our partners, we are thrilled to deliver a true gift to so many families
this holiday season."
Payless initiated the new program in response to the economic crisis, its
impact on the underprivileged, the significant need across the United States
for children's shoes, and to support smaller, localized nonprofits with a tool
to assist them in helping those in need this holiday season.
The company launched the program on Nov. 11 with a call to action to the
non-profit community to apply to be partners in the national shoe-gifting
campaign with an aim to build a network of localized organizations across the
nation for immediate, direct access to kids in need.In a 10-day
application period, the retailer received more than 2,500 applicants at its
application website http://www.paylessgives.com and inquiries from more than
3,000 U.S. cities nationwide. The application period is now closed.
"We were overwhelmed by the response from the non-profit community to join
us in this important effort -- to give a free pair of shoes to children in
need this holiday season," said Rubel. "Our intent is to work with and
through a diverse network of localized non-profits that have direct and
immediate access to the children. Our chosen partners -- 630 in all --
represent every state and a diverse group of non-profits located in small
towns, mid-sized and large cities, as well as rural areas so that we can
blanket the nation and most effectively reach those in need."
Greater Horizons of Kansas City, also a nonprofit, served as the
independent third-party to manage the selection process based on Payless' core
selection criteria, which included IRC 501(c) (3) status, filing form 990, and
direct access to underprivileged children in local communities during
December.
For a complete list of the 630 Payless Gives Shoes 4 Kids partners by
state and city, please go to http://www.paylessgives.com. Included will be
organization name with a link to its website.
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 third 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.
* Excluding Payless stores located in Shopko stores.
SOURCE Payless ShoeSource, Inc.
