Paul Evans Donates Handcrafted, Italian Shoes to Homeless for NYC Department of Homeless Services Special Project

"Through the Eyes of the Homeless" Photography Exhibit Raises Awareness of NYC Homeless Population

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Nov 23, 2015, 02:00 ET

NEW YORK, Nov. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Paul Evans, a New York-based men's shoe brand, recently gifted brand new, Italian leather shoes to eight area homeless men whose photography work debuted this week in New York City as part of the "Through the Eyes of the Homeless" project. The homeless men received the dress shoes during the highly anticipated gallery opening for a project aimed at raising awareness of individuals within the homeless population in New York City.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151123/290159

To give back to their own community and help raise awareness of this population, Paul Evans, was happy to support this cause by giving the men high quality dress shoes to wear to the gallery opening and to have for potential job interviews.

"Being homeless, I have to do a lot of walking so I can look for jobs," said Reggie, one of the homeless men who displayed his photography. "Having a new pair of shoes, will not only help me feel more confident, but will also help a potential employer have confidence in me."

According to the NYC Department of Homeless Services, in 2015, over three thousand homeless people are living on streets, parks, and subways in New York City. To shine a light on this often overlooked population, The NYC Department of Homeless Services partnered with local non-profit, The Heart Gallery, to utilize photography to document views of New York City's homeless community.

Over the last few months, the project's coordinators identified 14 homeless individuals to participate in the photography project. Paired with renowned photographers as their mentors, the homeless photography students hit the streets equipped with digital cameras to document an often unseen life through their cameras on the streets of NYC. Their best photographs were then exhibited at The Heart Gallery on November 16th at the "Through the Eyes of the Homeless" gallery exhibition.

As New Yorkers, Paul Evans supports these efforts to raise awareness of their local homeless population.

"It's staggering to learn of how many homeless are living in New York City," said Evan Fript, co-founder of Paul Evans. "We took this opportunity to help our NYC community because we thought that outfitting these men with our shoes would not only help them look their best on a very important night, but also help aid in their job search efforts."

About Paul Evans
Paul Evans' Founders Ben Earley and Evan Fript are long-time friends and graduates of Tulane University. When they identified a global demand in the fashion industry for luxury men's shoes at an affordable price point, they became determined to provide a solution to shoe lovers, exclusively online. Today, Paul Evans shoes are designed in New York City and handcrafted at a family-owned factory in Naples, Italy. By sourcing the highest-quality footwear available and eliminating excessive retail markups, Paul Evans is the only brand selling Italian luxury footwear direct-to-customers worldwide. Those who wish to step up their shoe game can visit paulevansny.com

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SOURCE Paul Evans