Brighton Stores Far Exceed Goal of Collecting 50,000 Shoes for Those in
Need
NASHVILLE, Tenn. and LOS ANGELES, June 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Thanks to the
generosity of customers and the concerted efforts of hundreds of dedicated
sales associates, Brighton Collectibles stores across America collected a
record 73,163 pairs of gently worn shoes in a single month. The shoes will
be donated to Soles4Souls, the international charity dedicated to providing
footwear to people in need.
Sales associates at 125 Brighton stores far exceeded the company's goal
of collecting 50,000 pair of shoes, and set a Soles4Souls retail record.
They accomplished this by partnering with local community organizations and
businesses to spread the word about the shoe drive. Although the store
partners went above and beyond to make this shoe drive a huge success, it
was only possible through the generosity of thousands of customers who took
the time to make a donation to those who are less fortunate.
Wayne Elsey, Soles4Souls Founder and CEO, said the shoes donated by
Brighton customers will really make a difference in the lives of those who
receive them. "The gift of shoes can be such a powerful thing. Often we
don't realize how many people both at home and abroad are without even a
single pair of shoes," he said. More than 300 million children in the world
have never owned a single pair of shoes. Yet, last year alone, the same
number of shoes were thrown away in American landfills.
This is the second year in a row that Brighton has partnered with
Soles4Souls. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Soles4Souls has to date donated
more than 3 million pairs of shoes to people in over 60 countries on five
continents through donations from footwear companies, retailers, churches,
nonprofit ministries, civic groups, schools and individuals.
Giving back is a tradition at Brighton, and the company has been
fortunate to be able to help communities across the United States and
around the world.
Brighton has donated more than $2.6 million to breast cancer charities
through the sale of limited-edition Power of Pink jewelry, and more than
$1.1 million to the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women campaign
to protect women from heart disease. In July, Brighton will be selling
Kazuri bead jewelry to support disadvantaged women in Kenya, Africa and to
raise money to build water wells in their area.
Known for excellent quality and a broad-ranging assortment of finely
crafted accessories, Brighton produces handbags, footwear, belts, jewelry,
small leather essentials, eyewear, luggage, fragrances, and gifts. Visit
http://www.brighton.com to see the entire product line.
About Soles4Souls
Nashville-based Soles4Souls facilitates the donations of both new and
used shoes, which are used to aid the hurting worldwide. Since its
inception, Soles4Souls has collected more than 3 million pairs (or one pair
every 28 seconds) from shoe companies, retailers, and individuals. The
shoes have been distributed in more than 60 countries, including Mexico,
Honduras, Romania, Thailand, and the Sudan. The charity has been featured
on CNN Headline News, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, ABC News, FOX,
CBS, and hundreds of regional outlets around North America. Soles4Souls is
a 501(c)(3) recognized by the IRS; donating parties are eligible for tax
advantages.
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