Soles4Souls(R), The Shoe Charity to Partner with CBL Shopping Malls Nationwide for Earth Day Event

CBL to Encourage Shoppers to Recycle for a Cause

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Mar 18, 2010, 03:35 ET

NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Now shoppers across the country can drop off their old stilettos and loafers at the mall before picking up new ones. Soles4Souls is excited to announce its partnership with CBL Properties, one of the largest owners and developers of malls and shopping centers in the US.

With an estimated 300 million pairs of shoes ending up in US landfills each year, and the more than 300 million children in the world who don't own a single pair, the idea of recycling shoes for a cause is what motivated the partnership.

Bins will be placed throughout each of the CBL shopping centers and shoppers will be able to drop off their gently worn shoes during the month long campaign, which concludes on Earth Day. With the goal of 150,000 pairs, shoes collected will be sent to the Cool Springs Galleria where an event to celebrate Earth Day will be held. The event on April 24th will include live music, food and festivities.

"We are proud to partner with CBL Properties in this call to action to celebrate Earth Day," said Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls, Inc. "This initiative will not only help put shoes on the feet of the millions worldwide who need them, but it also furthers the global effort to reuse."

"This partnership will provide many families with gently worn shoes, which otherwise may not be available to them. Soles4Souls' charitable initiative and CBL Mall's Celebrating the Earth campaign is a perfect opportunity to work together to support the many families in our communities. This campaign is an extension of CBL's sustainability efforts across our portfolio," said Barb Faucette, Vice President - Corporate Mall Marketing.

For more information about Soles4Souls and their recycling initiative nationwide, visit www.giveshoes.org.

About Soles4Souls®

Soles4Souls is a Nashville-based charity that collects shoes from warehouses of footwear companies and the closets of people like you. We distribute these shoes, free of charge, to people in need around the world. Since 2005, Soles4Souls has given away over 7 million pairs of new and gently worn shoes (currently distributing one pair every 9 seconds). The shoes have been distributed in 125 countries, including Haiti, Kenya, Nepal and the United States. Soles4Souls is a 501(c)(3) recognized by the IRS and donating parties are eligible for tax advantages.

SOURCE Soles4Souls