Let me give you some information and then I’ll let you tell me if TOMS is guilty of “toxic giving.”

In Ethiopia the shoe that is given is not a typical TOMS shoe. It would not be suitable @ all for the area. Two things are given…a rubber boot to children in extremely damp areas and a cross trainer type tennis shoe in other areas. TOMS designed the rubber boot, commissioned a factory in Ethiopia and oversees the production, therefore stimulating the economy. The tennis shoes are already produced there and are merely purchased by TOMS as needed, thus increasing their sales numbers and revenues. These are all locally owned factories inspected frequently by TOMS staff to be certain working conditions are appropriate.

Most of the efforts in Ethiopia are designed to prevent a disease called podoconiosus. An organization called the Mossy Foot Project was the leader but had limited resources, and could definitely use your fund raising abilities. They did practice “toxic giving” distributing shoes collected on “shoe drives” in the US and elsewhere. TOMS is changing that in my opinion. Also, the WHO didn’t even recognize this disease as a problem, giving no funding, until TOMS became involved. So, TOMS works much harder on causes than just giving shoes.

One more thing and I’ll let you decide. In Argentina TOMS actually has their own factories where locals are hired to manage the factories and to make the shoes that are distributed in Argentina and surrounding countries.

I won’t try to mislead you into thinking this happens in every country where TOMS gives, but TOMS does recognize it as a good business practice, and good for those areas, and plans to expand those programs elsewhere.

Keep in mind the first pair of TOMS was sold in 2006, and things just take time.

Thanks for your time.