TOMS
TOMS is one of those rare young companies that has built giving back into its DNA and has been able to scale. TOMS is the first recipient of a Golden Cause Marketing Halo Award not a Fortune 1000 company. TOMS ‘Buy One Give One’ model has charmed and engaged millions of consumers and inspired numerous social entrepreneurs.
In 2006, Blake Mycoskie befriended children in a village in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One. Since its inception, TOMS has donated 10 million pairs of shoes to children in need. Over the years, TOMS has evolved their giving program to include different types of shoes based on terrain and season and have helped create local jobs by producing shoes in countries where they give. All of TOMS Shoes are given to children through humanitarian organizations who incorporate shoes into their community development programs.
Realizing that the One for One model could serve other global needs, Blake launched TOMS Eyewear in 2011 to help restore sight to a person in need with every purchase of sunglasses and optical frames. 200,000 people have had their sight restored through purchases of TOMS Eyewear since 2011. Not only does a purchase help restore sight, it supports sustainable community-based eye care programs, helps create professional jobs (often for young women), and provides basic eye care training to local health volunteers and teachers.
In 2013, TOMS brought 30 socially conscious brands together on TOMS.com under the TOMS Marketplace umbrella. Browsable by cause category, brand or geographic area of impact, products include everything from accessories, apparel and bags to home goods, jewelry, sports equipment and technology.
In 2014, TOMS Roasting Company launched with the mission to give clean water back to the countries where their coffee beans are sourced. Partnering with Water For People, the structure provides one week of clean water to a person in need with each bag of coffee purchased with a focus on long-term water solutions that are community-owned.
Congratulations to TOMS on their Golden Halo Award win!
