TOMS Club at USC goes toe-to-toe with "One for One"

Katie Winn didn't want to start just any club at the University of South Carolina. “I wanted to start a club that would be doing some good for mankind,” Winn said. This would explain why she decided to found, and now act as president of, the TOMS Club at USC. The club goes hand in hand with the TOMS “One for One” mission statement and they want to take action locally.

When asked what she hopes will happen with this eco-chic club being on campus, she plainly stated: “I want it to benefit other students. Students at USC are capable of making a difference even if it is just promoting the “One for One” campaign. I want to spread the TOMS movement message and be a part of something bigger.”

The club has planned a few fundraisers to help benefit the Relay For Life race on April 8^th. On March 24^th they are having a “One for One” cupcake sale. For $1 you receive a cupcake that you can either decorate or pick out a pre-designed one. That same evening they are partnering with Mellow Mushroom for a percent night. The idea is to stop by for a slice to support a great cause. You can also pay to create a team with them and walk for the cure.

The national TOMS campaign “Day Without Shoes” is a day where people are encouraged to go about their normal days except, and here’s the obvious catch, without shoes. It is to get a glimpse of someone’s life that has to spend everyday without footwear. To help promote this, the TOMS club is doing a week of events including a Barefoot Challenge and a Barefoot Scavenger Hunt. Prizes will be donated from local businesses.

On April 5^th, the actual “Day Without Shoes”, club members will be in front of the Russell House on Greene Street with a banner. You will be able to put your bare foot on this banner in colored paint to show that you spent the day without shoes.

The TOMS Club at USC holds biweekly meetings every other Monday at the Russell House in room 305 at 7:30 pm. Meetings last no longer than an hour if you want to stop by and either inquire about joining or to learn how you can lend a helping hand to the TOMS movement and this philanthropic club.

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The Row and TOMS Shoes

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are no strangers to the fashion world. They have set many-a-trend for their generation and because of this they came to launch The Row in 2006 to create the “perfect” tee shirt. From there the line has expanded into evening wear, outerwear, knits, menswear and sunglasses. With their aspirations towards making The Row an “american luxury lifestyle brand”, they said what better way to do this than to collaborate with the charitable company TOMS shoes. Ashley Olsen said that they “feel it’s really important to spread awareness of the TOMS One for One Mission.”

The “One for One” mission statement is just the icing on the cake for Blake Mycoskie, the CEO of TOMS Shoes. He started the company in 2007 after traveling to a village in Argentina that was so impoverished the families couldn't afford shoes for their children. With this in mind, Mycoskie decided that for every one pair of shoes he sold, he would give one to a child in need. The collaboration with The Row will definitely amplify the exposure of his charitable mission. Blake said, “With The Row, we've found a partner whose amazing interpretation of our classic ‘alpargata’ [Spanish for espadrilles] has truly taken our product to an entirely new level.”

The alliance offers three groups of shoes in plaid, wool-cashmere and herringbone. The prices range from $98-$150 and instead of only donating one pair of shoes, they will donate a few pairs from just one purchase. Mary-Kate added “The giving is immediate [and] having the opportunity to be a part of something so meaningful has made the collaboration with TOMS special to everyone at The Row.”

Look for the shoes this fall on both TOMS and The Row websites.

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