Stride Rite Donates Over 150,000 Pairs of Shoes To Soles4Souls in 2016

This back-to-school season, customers helped Stride Rite donate nearly 60,000 pairs of shoes to families in need of shoes for their children to attend school. For over two months during the season, the brand donated one percent of net profits on the sale of shoes to Soles4Souls and customers were encouraged to drop off new or used shoes to the Soles4Souls donation bins located in Stride Rite stores.

"At Stride Rite, we're parents first, and we embrace the opportunity to partner with Soles4Souls to provide children with the shoes they so desperately need," said Liz Bunnell, senior director of marketing, Stride Rite. "With the help of our customers, we've impacted hundreds of thousands of children and we're excited to continue our work with Soles4Souls in the year ahead, providing this essential footwear for kids in need around the world."

Buddy Teaster, Soles4Souls president and chief executive officer noted, "Lots of companies talk about making a difference but Stride Rite is all about action. Their contributions of shoes and funds have enabled families in dozens of countries to have a better life. Even using conservative estimates, Stride Rite has generated more than $3 million dollars of direct economic impact. There is nothing that makes us happier than to know that Stride Rite and their customers have changed the world for good with their generosity. I've said it before but Stride Rite is one of the best partners Soles4Souls has ever had."

In developed nations such as the United States and Canada, one in five children live below the national poverty line. When Soles4Souls provides a pair of shoes, they are helping bridge the economic gap.

Families can help give back year round by bringing new or used shoes to a Stride Rite store and drop them in the Soles4Souls donation bin. As a thank you, customers will receive 5 percent off a new pair of shoes purchased in the same visit. Find your local Stride Rite store here.

For more information on Stride Rite please visit www.striderite.com. To learn more about Soles4Souls and how you can get involved in the fight against poverty, visit www.soles4souls.org.

ABOUT STRIDE RITE
Founded in 1919, Stride Rite combines heritage and knowledge, steeped in nearly 100 years in children's footwear, with a modern-day understanding of kids' every day adventures. Inspired by real life, Stride Rite prides itself on making great looking, high quality footwear, building strong consumer relationships and providing families with the best shopping experience in the industry. Powered by a team of dedicated kid experts, who are also devoted parents, Stride Rite is truly Built for Childhood™. Stride Rite is a division of Wolverine World Wide, Inc. For additional information, please visit our website, www.striderite.com.

ABOUT WOLVERINE WORLDWIDE
With a commitment to service and product excellence, Wolverine World Wide, Inc. is one of the world's leading marketers of branded casual, active lifestyle, work, outdoor sport, athletic, children's and uniform footwear and apparel.  The Company's portfolio of highly recognized brands includes: Merrell®, Sperry®, Hush Puppies®, Saucony®, Wolverine®, Keds®, Stride Rite®, Sebago®, Chaco®, Bates®, HYTEST®, and Soft Style®. The Company also is the global footwear licensee of the popular brands Cat® and Harley-Davidson®. The Company's products are carried by leading retailers in the U.S. and globally in approximately 200 countries and territories. For additional information, please visit our website, www.wolverineworldwide.com. 

ABOUT SOLES4SOULS®
Soles4Souls is a not for profit global social enterprise committed to fighting poverty through the collection and distribution of shoes and clothing. The organization advances its anti-poverty mission by collecting new and used shoes and clothes from individuals, schools, faith- based institutions, civic organizations and corporate partners, then distributing those shoes and clothes both via direct donations to people in need and by provisioning qualified micro-enterprise programs designed to create jobs in poor and disadvantaged communities. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Soles4Souls is committed to the highest standards of operating and governance and holds a four star rating with Charity Navigator. Visit www.soles4souls.org for more information.

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SOURCE Stride Rite

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