Soles4Souls is 'MAD' Enough to Rebuild School and Expand Community Center in Haiti

The Shoe Charity announces a 'Making A Difference' in Haiti campaign and needs the public's support

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Nov 02, 2011, 01:00 ET

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Soles4Souls announced a new campaign this week and hopes the public will rally behind their MAD in Haiti efforts. With the 2nd anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti only a few months away, Soles4Souls is launching a 'Making A Difference' in Haiti (www.MADinHaiti.org) holiday campaign to help rebuild a school in Leogane that was flattened by the earthquake and renovating and operating a community center that will focus on youth in Haiti. With 74% of primary aged girls not enrolled in school (UNICEF) and 800,000 still living in tents (CNN), Haiti needs the support of committed organizations like Soles4Souls to continue to recover and make progress.

The school and community center plans are in addition to the 3-pronged approach for sustained support Soles4Souls has already provided in Haiti since the earthquake. The charity has distributed more than 1 million pairs of shoes to residents, established a micro-enterprise program for local shoe vendors that provides rare employment opportunities, and sent more than 15 teams of volunteers to distribute shoes and spend time with victims and orphans of the earthquake.

"We promised a sustained effort in Haiti when the earthquake struck, and two years later we continue to find new opportunities to help," said Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls. "One of the things we realized was missing after several relief trips was a place for youth to seek leadership, educational, and entrepreneurial opportunities, which is why we feel the community center is so important."

The general public can support MADinHaiti by cleaning out their closets, hosting a shoe drive in their local community or business, or by pledging their monetary support at www.giveshoes.org.

"Education and Community are two important parts of creating opportunities for the youth of Haiti. We need partners in this endeavor to help change Haiti for the better," Elsey added.

About Soles4Souls®, Clothes4Souls®, and Hope4Souls®
Soles4Souls collects new shoes to give relief to the victims of abject suffering and collects used shoes to support micro-enterprise efforts to eradicate poverty. Soles4Souls' other two divisions, Clothes4Souls and Hope4Souls, provide the same relief and support through clothing and other necessities. Donating parties are eligible for tax advantages. Visit www.giveshoes.org, www.clothes4souls.org , or www.hope4souls.org for more information.

SOURCE Soles4Souls