Mercy Corps Benefits From KEEN 10TH Birthday Fundraiser

Cupcake events in 10 U.S. cities and #KEEN10 photo promo will raise both awareness and critical funds for families struggling in some of the world's toughest places

PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The global humanitarian agency Mercy Corps announced today that it will participate and be the sole beneficiary of a fundraising initiative conducted this week by KEEN, the dare-to-be-different manufacturer of original hybrid footwear, bags and socks. To celebrate KEEN's 10^th birthday, the company will be giving away cupcakes on March 1^st in 10 U.S. cities, including: Portland, OR, Seattle, New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Austin, TX, and Twin Cities, MN.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110818/DC54665LOGO-a)

"Mercy Corps is excited to participate in the cupcake fun this Friday and help KEEN celebrate its 10 year birthday," said Jennifer Schmidt, senior development officer of corporate partnerships for Mercy Corps. "This initiative is a great way to raise both awareness and funds for families struggling in some of the world's toughest places. Giving back to communities is at the heart of KEEN's mission and that makes them a perfect partner for us."

Anyone can receive a complimentary cupcake by visiting a designated cupcake shop in the 10 participating cities and trading in a KEEN cupcake coupon. For each cupcake handed out, Mercy Corps will receive a $5 donation. People are also encouraged to Tweet or Instagram a photo tagged #KEEN10 of their cupcake to trigger an additional $5 donation to Mercy Corps. The details of this promotion, a complete list of participating cupcake shops, and a coupon in the form of a downloadable complimentary cupcake certificate are available at the KEEN blog.

The cupcake events are part of a greater virtual birthday celebration inviting KEEN fans worldwide to share their memories of the company over the past 10 years by posting photos on social media. For each photo tagged #KEEN10 between March 1^st and 3^rd, KEEN will donate $5 to Mercy Corps for its work providing lifesaving aid in an emergency as well as long-term assistance to help people become self-sufficient, take care of their families and rebuild their communities.

"We expect our fans' enthusiasm to easily meet our goal to raise $10,000 for Mercy Corps in one day by triggering a couple of thousand $5 donations with their photos tagged #KEEN10," said Chris Enlow, Hybrid.Care & CSR manager for KEEN. "We wanted to celebrate our birthday on a global scale, and there's no better way we know than to share the joy with our fans by raising money for a cause we care about."

NOTE TO EDITORS: In order to participate in cupcake event fundraiser, follow these three steps:

1. Print your coupon off here: http://bit.ly/keencoupon
2. Visit one of the 10 participating cupcake shops and trade in coupon
3. Tweet or Instagram a photo tagged #KEEN10 of your cupcake

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps helps people turn the crises they confront into the opportunities they deserve. Driven by local needs, our programs provide communities in the world's toughest places with the tools and support they need to transform their own lives. Our worldwide team in 41 countries is improving the lives of 19 million people. For more information, visit www.mercycorps.org.

About KEEN

KEEN Inc., manufacturer of original hybrid footwear, bags, socks and clothing was founded in 2003. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, KEEN offers innovative hybrid products that enable outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy an active lifestyle.  Known for its innovation and creativity, KEEN started with the invention of the first sandal that protects the toe - the Newport.  Since its inception, the company has applied that same problem-solving design approach to expand its footwear collection and offer bags, socks and clothing.  KEEN offers products that allow people to go anywhere, from trekking the wilds of the world, exploring a cool city, heading to work, or skipping to a playground down the street.  KEEN's products are sold in specialty footwear, travel and outdoor retailers, premium-sporting goods retailers and major outdoor specialty retail chains worldwide.  In 2010, 2011 and 2012 KEEN was named one of "America's Best Places to Work" by Outside magazine.  KEEN strives to demonstrate integrity and leadership while promoting a vibrant, inclusive community.

Discover more about KEEN and keep up with us online at www.keenfootwear.com, www.facebook.com/keen and www.twitter.com/keen

SOURCE Mercy Corps