Soles4Souls® Launches New Division Hope4Souls™

The international shoe charity Soles4Souls' newest addition will provide holistic support to people recovering from natural disasters and living in extreme poverty

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Soles4Souls

Apr 04, 2011, 10:00 ET

NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Soles4Souls® Inc., the international shoe charity that gives away shoes, announced today it is once again expanding its ever-growing brand with the addition of Hope4Souls. Hope4Souls will be a general product division of Soles4Souls, providing various supplies like medical materials, toys, non-perishable food and other provisions to individuals and organizations in need. Hope4Souls is the second division to be added under the Soles4Souls umbrella, which already houses the apparel division Clothes4Souls that launched in 2010.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110404/CL76538LOGO )

"Soles4Souls has always been in the hope business. We've done it through shoes. We've done it through clothes. And now we're expanding our reach so that we can leverage our proven distribution channels and our diverse partner network to give individuals and communities suffering from extreme poverty and recovering from natural disasters the access they need to the resources necessary to build a better tomorrow," said Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls.

The shoe charity, which was founded by Wayne Elsey in 2004, has grown from a handful of employees and volunteers into an internationally-recognized organization with more than 40 employees and five warehouses to handle the millions of shoes and pieces of apparel it distributes each year. The charity has distributed more than 13.7 million pairs of shoes and more than 1 million pieces of apparel since 2004. Elsey explained the new division will be a natural extension of the already successful distribution operations it has in place.

Kevin Goughary, the current Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operations Officer for Soles4Souls has been named General Manager of the new division and will retain his role as CFO of Soles4Souls.

"Kevin has been here since the infancy of Soles4Souls and will be a natural fit for this new role. His leadership and logistical experience will be leveraged in new ways to further enhance the operation," added Elsey.

For more information about the Hope4Souls division please visit www.hope4souls.org. To learn more about the parent charity Soles4Souls visit www.giveshoes.org.

About Soles4Souls® & Clothes4Souls®

Soles4Souls collects, recycles and reuses shoes from warehouses of footwear companies and closets from individuals. We distribute usable shoes to people in need around the world (we recycle less than 2% of donated footwear). Since 2005, Soles4Souls has given away over 13 million pairs of new and gently worn shoes (currently distributing one pair every 7 seconds). The shoes have been distributed in 125 countries, including Haiti, Kenya, Nepal and the United States.

Clothes4Souls, a new division of Soles4Souls, provides hope for hurting people through the gift of new clothing from manufacturers, designers, and retailers. Those who graciously give (rather than destroy) unused inventory are assured their donations are distributed to people around the world living in desperate need.

Donating parties are eligible for tax advantages. Visit www.giveshoes.org or www.clothes4souls.org for more information.

Read Wayne Elsey's Book: "Almost Isn't Good Enough: The Human Connection Changes Everything"

Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls, wrote this book to inspire readers to intercede on behalf of people in need. It reveals what is possible when one person resolves to make a measurable impact. Elsey shares insights gained from launching and guiding Soles4Souls into becoming one of the most respected charities in the United States. He also invites readers to take direct action for people in need, because everyone can do something to make a positive difference. Elsey also challenges the traditional operations model for charities and shares how Soles4Souls has been successful through innovation and a dedicated passion for results. 100% of the proceeds from "Almost Isn't Good Enough" benefits Soles4Souls. Learn more by visiting www.wayneelsey.com.

SOURCE Soles4Souls