Naturalizer® Invites Consumers to Shop for a Good Cause During Friends of Naturalizer Campaign

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Naturalizer®, a division of Brown Shoe Company, Inc., (NYSE: BWS, www.brownshoe.com) kicks off its semi-annual Friends of Naturalizer campaign today to benefit Dress for Success Worldwide, an international not-for-profit organization offering services designed to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women.

From September 29 to October 2, 2011, Naturalizer will donate $1 U.S. to Dress for Success Worldwide for every shoe or handbag purchase made in a Naturalizer store, on naturalizer.com or naturalizer.ca – up to $20,000 U.S.  

Launched in 2009, the Friends of Naturalizer program takes place each spring and fall as part of the brand's mission to help women feel good by providing them with an opportunity to give back by shopping.  Shoppers are asked to visit www.naturalizer.com or www.naturalizer.ca to discover the multiple ways Dress for Success Worldwide gives disadvantaged women the tools to succeed. Consumers will vote to determine which one of three Dress for Success Worldwide programs will be the recipient of Naturalizer's donation. There is no purchase necessary to vote.

"We are pleased to support the efforts of Dress for Success Worldwide through our Friends of Naturalizer campaign. We have watched our customers support many wonderful organizations over the past four Friends of Naturalizer campaigns. We are touched by their generosity," said Naturalizer Marketing Director Yolonda Curtin.

Since the organization was founded in 1997, Dress for Success Worldwide has helped more than 600,000 disadvantaged women across the world break down barriers so they can succeed by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.

With affiliates in more than 110 cities across 12 countries, Dress for Success Worldwide reaches more than 50,000 women each year. This is done not only through its well-known suiting program, which provides clients with professional clothing, but also through employment retention programs and ongoing support.

"Dress for Success Worldwide believes that every woman has the ability to be self-sufficient and successful in her career," said Joi Gordon, Dress for Success Worldwide CEO. "We are pleased to work with a brand like Naturalizer that supports these same values. The funds raised through Friends of Naturalizer will work to help women across the world reach their full potential."

Over the past two years, Naturalizer has donated more than $80,000 U.S. to deserving charitable organizations.

For more information on Naturalizer, visit www.naturalizer.com, www.naturalizer.ca or www.facebook.com/naturalizer.

About Naturalizer

Launched in 1927 as one of the first comfort-driven fashion footwear brands, Naturalizer shoes deliver just the right blend of style and comfort for the busy lifestyle of today's woman. Learn more by visiting www.naturalizer.com, and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/naturalizer.

About Brown Shoe Company, Inc.

Brown Shoe is a $2.7 billion global footwear company. Brown Shoe's Retail division operates Famous Footwear(TM), a leading family branded footwear destination with over 1,100 stores nationwide and e-commerce site FamousFootwear.com, approximately 250 specialty retail stores in the U.S., Canada, and China primarily under the Naturalizer(R) brand name, and footwear e-tailer shoes.com. Through its wholesale divisions, Brown Shoe designs and markets leading fashion and athletic footwear brands including Naturalizer, Dr. Scholl's(R), LifeStride(R), Sam Edelman(R), Franco Sarto(TM), Via Spiga(R), Etienne Aigner(TM), Vera Wang Lavender(TM), Avia(R), ryka(R) and Buster Brown(TM). Brown Shoe press releases are available on the Company's website at www.brownshoe.com.

About Dress for Success Worldwide

Dress for Success Worldwide is an international not-for-profit organization that promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Since starting operations in 1997, Dress for Success Worldwide has expanded to more than 110 cities in 12 countries. To date, Dress for Success Worldwide has helped more than 600,000 women work towards self-sufficiency. Visit www.dressforsuccess.org to learn more.

SOURCE Naturalizer