TOMS News from Africa

The CBS Evening News recently joined TOMS Chief Shoe Giver Blake Mycoskie in Southern Ethiopia, a region where TOMS gives shoes to children at risk for a debilitating disease called Podoconiosis.

The segment, which aired on Wednesday October 28th on CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, was led by reporter Daniel Sieberg who met up with Mycoskie in Sodo to learn about TOMS giving efforts in the region.

Mycoskie, once a contestant on CBS' adventure reality show The Amazing Race, touched on his approval of the title "social entrepreneur," a person able to translate their entrepreneurial spirit and drive into positive change and social responsibility. The One for One business model will have made it possible for TOMS to give away 300,000 pairs of shoes by year's end.

TOMS has been giving shoes in Ethiopia since 2008, and now Friends of TOMS, the non-profit arm of TOMS shoes, is working to support treatment of those affected by Podoconiosis. Podo develops from long term exposure to a collection of minerals found in the soil, causing extreme swelling of the legs, discomfort, and creating negative social stigmas. However, this disease is preventable with proper footwear and basic hygiene. By giving shoes and supporting treatment programs to those at-risk or suffering from Podoconiosis, TOMS and Friends of TOMS are making positive strides in the lives of the people in these communities.

More of the article here.