Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month With Payless -- Buy $2 Bracelet That Supports the Payless Inspiring Possibilities Scholarship Program Dedicated to the Higher Education of Hispanic Youth

TOPEKA, Kan., Aug. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and for the third consecutive year, Payless ShoeSource® has launched the Payless Inspiring Possibilities Scholarship Program in partnership with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF).  Starting September 1, Payless will sell two limited-edition bracelets for $2 each, perfect for collecting and layering, and the retailer will donate 100 percent of the net sales to establish scholarships to support the higher-education of Hispanic youth.  

With a minimum guaranteed donation of $37,000 for the 2010 program, the Payless Inspiring Possibilities Scholarship Program will help raise money nationwide by selling the $2 on-trend bracelets at select stores and on Payless.com, while supplies last. Through this program, Payless, along with its customers, continue to help the Hispanic youth in their pursuit to achieve their educational goals.

The Payless Inspiring Possibilities Scholarship Program offers consumers the opportunity to show their support with fun, fashion flair with the on-trend affordable accessory that is completely philanthropic and designed to support this important and worthy cause. This year's exclusively designed bracelets are offered in two popular fall colors: blue and purple and are perfect for collecting and layering -- the latest trend in bracelets.   The stylish design features an elastic multi-band and three dangling charms engraved with inspirational words on each side (English on one side, Spanish on the other): Dream/Sonar, Believe/Creer, and Inspire/Inspirar.  

"We are thrilled to once again collaborate with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund to create opportunities for Hispanic students to pursue their college education," said Gaby Alban, spokesperson for Payless ShoeSource. "We want people to join us and buy both -- even many -- bracelets to show their support for this year's Inspiring Possibilities Scholarship program."

Last year's Payless Inspiring Possibilities Scholarship program made possible for Payless to award 12 HSF scholarships to students from all over the country for the 2010-2011 academic year.

"The funds I received helped make my first year of doctoral studies a thriving reality," says Naihobe Gonzalez, PhD Student, Department of Economics at Columbia University and a recipient of one of last year's Payless Inspiring Possibilities Scholarships. "What's more, this scholarship represented more than just financial support--it was a welcome vote of confidence in me, a gesture that encouraged me to persevere despite the challenges that an unfamiliar and rigorous new academic environment presented. Although each award lasts only a year, the contribution Payless has made does not end. "

For more information on the two limited-edition bracelets and/or the Payless Inspiring Possibilities Scholarship Program, please visit www.payless.com/hhm.

About Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF)

The Hispanic Scholarship Fund's (HSF) mission is to strengthen America by advancing the college education of Hispanic Americans. The organization delivers a range of programs to Hispanic families and students through community outreach and education, affordability via scholarships, college retention and career opportunities. HSF supports a successful path for Latinos to attain a college degree - creating an increasingly valuable asset for a stronger, more competitive America in the 21st century.  Celebrating its 35th year, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund has awarded over $300M, resulting in close to 100,000 scholarships to students in need. For more information, go to: www.HSF.net.

About Payless' Giving Programs

Since 2004, Payless has established formal programs to support important causes by selling unique items and making them accessible at affordable price points and then partnering with shoppers by donating 100 percent of the net profits from item sales to a nonprofit partner. Payless makes no money from these programs; they are 100 percent philanthropic. Through such programs, Payless also celebrates Black History Month and Hispanic Heritage Month by establishing the Payless Inspiring Possibilities Scholarships with the National Urban League and Hispanic Scholarship Foundation, respectively, to support the higher education of America's minority youth. Payless supports inner city youth in New York City with its Friendship Shoe program, with proceeds benefitting The Fresh Air Fund, which provides free summer vacations to underprivileged children living in the New York City area.   Payless also has an alliance with the Nature Conservancy's Plant a Billion Trees campaign where it is donating $1 – the cost to plant one tree in the Atlantic Forest in Brazil -- for every reusable shopping bag sold.   The company said it expects to plant, at minimum, 100,000 trees through the 2010 program.  For the Holiday 2009 season, Payless initiated the Payless Gives Shoes 4 Kids program to give $1.2 million of free shoes to children of families in need in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and in 10 Latin American countries.  These are among the Payless and Collective Brands, Inc. giving programs.

About Payless & Collective Brands, Inc.

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 2010, the company operated nearly 4,500 stores. In addition, customers can buy shoes over the Internet through Payless.com(R) at 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 nearly 4,500-store retail chain, with its brands Airwalk(R), Dexter(R), Champion(R), Zoe & Zac(TM), the first-ever affordable green footwear brand, and designer collections Lela Rose for Payless, Unforgettable Moments by Lela Rose, Christian Siriano for Payless, Patricia Field for Payless, Isabel Toledo for Payless and STPL x Airwalk, among others; Collective Brands Performance + Lifestyle Group, focused on lifestyle and performance 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). Information about, and links for shopping on, each of the Collective Brand's units can be found at www.collectivebrands.com.

SOURCE Payless ShoeSource, Inc.

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