Featured TOMS Artist: Kaley Lynn
Lucky us that in planning, coordinating or hosting Style Your Sole events across the globe, we get to know some of the most awesome, most fun, and most talented artists and bring them to your hometowns to create unique designs on your TOMS Shoes! Lucky for you that you get to meet these amazing people and wear those creations, while joining these artists for great times at the TOMS events!
In getting ready for an afternoon of awesome this weekend in New Braunfels, Texas, we got to spend a few minutes chatting with Kaley Lynn, the artist who’ll be customizing TOMS Shoes during Saturday’s event.
She cracks us up, and we’re excited that some of you will get to experience her talent and her joy at Texas Ski Ranch.
TOMS: So, Kaley… tell us about yourself.
KL: Well, here are some fun facts…
Hometown: Orlando, FL.
Most embarrassing song on your iPod: “Loving you” by Minnie Ripperton.
Favorite pair of TOMS Shoes: Natural Canvas Classics because they're the staple behind my favorite designs.
Favorite quote: "Live every week like it's shark week" - 30 Rock.
Most spontaneous activity you've done recently: Zip-lined over a pond of crocodiles in Cocoa Beach.
TOMS: When did you first realize you could be a great artist?
KL: In second grade when all the girls in my class were begging me to draw them standing with the Spice Girls.
TOMS: What inspires you in your life and in your work?
KL: I am inspired by so many things. If I spend more than 2 seconds thinking about any given thing, I will find some kind of inspiration from it. I usually am inspired by humor and try to rope that in to whatever I create.
TOMS: How'd you first hear about TOMS & why do you dig being a part of the movement?
KL: I started working at Downtown Disney® Pleasure Island in Orlando, Florida painting TOMS Shoes at a surf shop and I saw how passionate people are about the company and movement. It's a great thing to be crazy about and makes me happy that this kind of participation and action is going on and catching on.
TOMS: Favorite TOMS event?
KL: The Festival of the Masters in Downtown Disney® Pleasure Island in Orlando, Florida. The first time the shop Curl by Sammy Duvall hosted an SYS for the Festival, it went so well that Sammy made it an everyday thing. Being the artist for that long run of SYS gigs was the greatest job I could ever ask for. I ended up painting more than 500 pairs of TOMS in the 8 months that I worked there.
TOMS: What do you love most about creating art on customers' TOMS shoes at Style Your Sole events?
KL: The best part about about bringing my art to TOMS Style Your Sole events is hearing what other people (TOMS fans) are envisioning and then being the one that brings their ideas to life. Sometimes I run out of "creative juices" and people will come up to me with far-out ideas that get me really pumped.
TOMS: If someone wrote a book on your life, what would the title be?
KL: “Everybody Loves a Socially Awkward Girl”
TOMS: Where can we check out more about you & your art?
KL: You can check out my facebook page at Facebook.com/SpotlessGiraffe.
Folks near New Braunfels, Texas - this lady’s Styling Your Sole at Texas Ski Ranch this Saturday, February 26th! Find event details & RSVP on Facebook.
One Day Without Shoes - Join us April 10, 2012
Learn why we go without shoes for One Day each year, and JOIN US on Tuesday April 10th! All the info you need is at www.OneDayWithoutShoes.com
Great News: We're Giving More Shoes in the USA
We’re excited to share more about TOMS shoe giving programs right here at home, in the United States.
Did you know? Nearly half of Native American children live in poverty, making rural reservation communities home to the some of the poorest minority groups in the United States. With the help of National Relief Charities, children living on Native American reservations are now getting the shoes they need to help protect their feet.*
We’ve spent the last year with National Relief Charities (NRC) learning about Native American reservation communities and the need for shoes. We learned that many of these families live in isolated, rural communities and that they struggle for access to fresh food, health care, jobs, clothing and basic supplies. The drive to work, grocery stores and health care centers can take two to three hours. 
The shoes we give to these children are sometimes the first pair of well-fitting shoes they’ve ever owned. New shoes give them confidence in school, something echoed by our Giving Partners abroad. NRC tells us the parents are often active participants, allowing the TOMS distribution to become a community affair.
Our partnership with NRC is something we're proud of and excited for. As with all of our global shoe-giving, we carefully vet and select Giving Partners based on both their approach to responsible giving (community involvement, integration with other programs and impacts, and sustainable giving over time), and on their logistical capabilities (usually organizations that work with a large number of children). Interested organizations – in the U.S. and around the world – can always get in touch with us at www.TOMS.com/GivingPartners.
Check out more images of TOMS shoe-giving with NRC on the TOMS Facebook page...
Learn more about National Relief Charities...
*Source: nces.ed.gov
Cupid or Stupid?
Candy wrappers, greeting card aisles and especially sappy TV commercials say it’s coming; there’s something in the air, and we think you know what we’re talking about… love it or hate it: Valentine’s Day is on its way.
See what TOMS Spring Interns are saying about the holiday’s near arrival…
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Kari, Intern with TOMS Campus team Kari’s wearing TOMS Black Sequins Women’s Wedges. Shop that style here. |
Tiffany’s wearing TOMS Black Sequins Women’s Wedges. Shop that style here. |
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Josh, Intern with TOMS Sales team |
Andrew, Intern with TOMS Online team |
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Whitney, Intern with TOMS Marketing team Whitney’s wearing TOMS Natural Canvas Classics. Shop that style here. |
Erin’s wearing TOMS Natural Canvas Classics. Shop that style here.
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Are you down with the love bug? Vote now in our Facebook poll!!
Shop for TOMS in red & pink hues or shiny styles… and have you seen our limited edition Valentine shoe??
Shop TOMS Valentine Classics here.
*only available on TOMS.com
Not into observing this here holiday? All kinds of TOMS for all kinds of folks here.
Profiles in Giving: Roslelor's First Pair of New Shoes
Dorvil, a father of three living in northern Haiti, beamed with pride as his 11-year-old daughter, Roslelor, received her TOMS Shoes – the first pair of brand new shoes she had ever had.
Dorvil had bought shoes for Roslelor before with the little money he could pull together from growing corn, potatoes, beans and plantains on his small plot of land. But he could only afford used shoes that never fit her well. It didn’t take long for Roslelor to decide she was more comfortable without them – putting her at risk of injury and soil-transmitted infections.
Roslelor is a shy girl, and when asked about her new shoes, she quietly said, almost to herself, “I will wear them to school.” Dorvil smiled as she answered, clearly thrilled that his daughter had new shoes that fit her.
TOMS Giving Partner IMA World Health met many children like Roslelor while they were giving new TOMS Shoes to children throughout Haiti.
Rick Santos, President and CEO of IMA, shared with us, “The children are so excited – for most it is the first new pair of shoes they have ever owned! And we at IMA are excited to provide a second line of defense against soil-transmitted infections. We are now able to provide both de-worming medication and new shoes to schoolchildren in Haiti to treat and prevent infection. We thank TOMS supporters for making this possible!”
Want to learn more? Check out:
Web site for IMA World Health
Info from IMA about Neglected Tropical Diseases
Post-Deployment Joy
Mandi, a TOMS fan in Port Hueneme, California, posted this photo on the TOMS Facebook wall, and we knew there had to be an incredible story behind it. Read on, as Mandi explains why she took her TOMS to greet her husband when he returned from service in the U.S. Navy…
“It’s always a very special moment when your spouse returns from a long deployment, and it's common to see wives in high heels greeting their husbands at the flight line. When I thought about my husband’s return, however, I knew I’d be wearing my TOMS. In some ways, I feel that TOMS connects me to my husband during the times when we’re far apart.
During deployments, my husband gets the opportunity to travel and give back to the communities around where he serves. He has built hospitals, medical clinics and schools in Japan, Cuba, Pakistan, Jamaica, Afghanistan, and recently worked in Cambodia building water wells.
I love hearing him share his stories of how he’s helped, and I feel that through wearing TOMS, I can be a part of similar global humanitarian efforts.
That’s the story of this photo and why our family includes TOMS in meaningful moments.”
Do you include TOMS in your meaningful moments? We want to know about it! Share your photos & stories with us and the global TOMS Community on the TOMS Community Wall.
How TOMS Shoes fit into the big picture
With TOMS Giving Partner IMA World Health...
Shoes are important, especially in developing countries where children walk for miles every day to get to school and clean water.
Shoes protect feet from rough paths, sharp objects, contaminated soil and the cold and heat. And in some places they’re a part of school uniforms, making them a requirement for children to attend class.
And yet, while those all are great benefits, it’s when shoes are combined with other efforts like de-worming medications, hygiene education and community health care that they become even more powerful tools in helping keep kids healthy and on track in their education.
That’s why TOMS is proud that our customers’ shoes are given through Giving Partners like IMA World Health in Haiti. IMA has been working to prevent soil-transmitted infections in Haiti since 2007.
In conjunction with schools and community centers, IMA provides education on healthy hygiene and sanitation practices as well as de-worming and other safe medications to help treat children with parasites. Since 2010, IMA has been integrating TOMS Shoes into their programs, helping further protect children from infections.
“These [TOMS] shoes provide added benefit to IMA’s program on several levels. First, the children love the shoes. You can see their faces light up when they put them on. They are genuinely excited.“
“But ultimately, shoes act as a simple barrier, providing an extra layer of protection against soil-transmitted infections. They are a wonderful complement to the medication being distributed through our program.” - Rick Santos, President & CEO of IMA World Health.
Thanks to the expertise of TOMS Giving Partners like IMA World Health and their experience in developing communities, TOMS Shoes are more than a gift, but a crucial piece of the puzzle for improving children’s health and access to education.
Want to learn more? Check out:
A Soleful Entrance for the Spring 2012 Interns
Hello TOMS fans, followers and random passersby! I’m Erin, one of eighteen fresh faces that just began the intern experience here at TOMS headquarters in Santa Monica, CA. As the Social Media department’s intern I will be running this blog for the duration of our internship.
It’s technically our second week here, but it feels like we just finished orientation yesterday. The Brand Experience department organized an incredible two days for a group of strangers to come together, all with different backgrounds, school and job experiences, with the one common thread that we were all thrilled and awed to now be a part of the TOMS family.
If only one theme stuck in our heads during our first few days, it would be that TOMS is more than just a company or a business. The One for One mission statement goes beyond being a simple (and revolutionary!) business model – it is the essence of everyone’s existence here. All departments, from Customer Service to Alternative Sales seem to operate on the foundation of giving and storytelling.
“What’s our story?” we were rhetorically asked several times by employees from different departments, as they were spending quality time with us, explaining their jobs, inviting questions and offering incredible words of wisdom.
The sagest advice can be summed up here: to enter humbly, explore your assigned department, volunteer outside your area and to engage fellow TOMS employees, gaining knowledge from their own experiences.
(L to R: Kelly, Dana, Kari and Michael)
“TOMS is great not only to be able to work for, but to meet and get to know people from all over. On our first day off, some of us interns had the chance to get together and hike to the Hollywood sign for fun!” Kari, Campus Club intern
As orientation continued, a palpable sense of pride emerged in our group. We are wearing shoes – a simple pair of consumer merchandise, with four simple letters – that carries meaning beyond the canvas and rubber constituent parts. We are now part of the story! We are contributing our own unique perspectives to the philosophical and physical story that is TOMS.
A favorite moment from orientation was the Style Your Sole activity – it felt like we were doing arts and crafts at summer camp!
“It was so fun to be creative and to see how different everyone’s shoes turned out!” Jenna, Retail Marketing intern, fashion
The spring 2012 intern class is full of energy, ambition and inspiration! We are psyched to be a part of the TOMS movement, and look forward to sharing our future experiences.
TOMS Campus tips for how to start the semester strong
Time to kick off a new year, TOMS students! Here are some pointers for starting fresh in 2012:
Find out if there's already a TOMS Campus Club where you go to school (high schoolers - we're talking to you guys, too!) using this finder tool on the TOMS Campus Club site. If there's not one already, start your own TOMS Campus Club and become a pioneer on your campus; you'll find the directions to do so on that same page.
If you're already part of a TOMS Campus Club, or once you get in touch and begin to take part, check in with your Campus Club leader for info on the next club meeting. Brainstorm some fun ideas you’d like to try for the club in the coming semester. Get creative! Share your ideas with your club, and ask let us know what you're up to by connecting with us on the TOMS Campus Club site.
Talk to your teachers about bringing TOMS to the classroom. Point them to the new Teaching Portal on the TOMS Campus Programs site for teaching guides, videos, and discussion questions!
Find inspiration. Read Chief Shoe Giver Blake Mycoskie's first book, Start Something That Matters. In it, you'll find stories about how TOMS started, why we give, our company culture, and other companies/people that have provided Blake with inspiration along the way.
Keep warm in the cold months!Host a screening of the TOMS documentary, "For Tomorrow," at a fun or convenient indoor venue. Maybe you can serve hot chocolate or tea to attendees while educating and chatting about the TOMS story!
Stay organized! Add your Campus Club events, meetings, and reminders to your planner or electronic calendar. Find out what events your club is planning and how you can get involved. Keep us up to date! If your leader has changed, your club has new members, or you have anything to share from 2011 or for 2012, send us a note at campusprograms@toms.com and let the TOMS Campus Team know!
Get in the loop! Read the update e-mails from campusprograms@toms.com. They’re sent every other week to those who are subscribed, and they'll clue you in on important announcements and information about club activities and new resources. If you’re not on the send list, shoot us an e-mail at campusprograms@toms.com with a request to be added, and we'll get you all taken care of.
And one last thing for now: HAVE FUN!
- TOMS Campus Team
