Soles4Souls has a simple concept:

We get shoes and give them away.  Bring your used footwear to Fleet Feet Sports Madison.  We will make sure they get to this very worthy cause.

In the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami that hit Southeast Asia, Wayne Elsey, the Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls® Inc., felt compelled to do something. Like many of us, he did not know what to do. He was at home one night, watching TV and he saw a picture of a single shoe washing up on the beach. That triggered a few calls to some other executives in the footwear industry and the subsequent donation of a quarter of a million shoes to victims in the devastated countries.

A year later when Katrina hit, Wayne called the same group of friends, and they sent over a million pairs of shoes down to the gulf coast communities affected by the hurricane. In all honesty, he admits that he did not expect such an immediate and successful turnout. This left him wondering, why not start a non-profit and do this all the time? One year later, Soles4Souls was formally created.

It has been that simple: changing the world one pair at a time.

Soles4Souls receives large donations from footwear companies, retailers, churches, nonprofit ministries, civic groups, schools, and individuals and saw that this could become a full time organization. That's why Soles4Souls was created – to facilitate the donations from these groups to the people who desperately need footwear.

Fleet Feet To Sponsor Second Annual Miler In Training for Allied Neighborhood

The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health has once again teamed up with Fleet Feet Sports-Madison and the Madison Schools and Community Recreation summer program to put on the second annual Miler in Training: Allied Neighborhood Program.

The Allied Drive neighborhood is one of Madison's most under-resourced and diverse communities. It is common for residents to have limited access to employment, health care, childcare and transportation. Allied has the highest concentration of needy families in the county, and 1⁄4 of its 1,350 children live in poverty. This is a neighborhood with well documented challenges in regard to health, crime, drugs and safety.

This program is an expansion of the original Miler in Training program designed by Fleet Feet Sports-Madison in 2005. When Fleet Feet Sports owner Jessica Anderson created the program, her goal was to introduce new people to running in a team-oriented, non-intimidating environment. Participants took part in training workouts and then completed a one-mile race at the end of the program. This same philosophy was applied in the creation of the Miler in Training: Allied Neighborhood program. However, in addition to running, this program includes a health education component and is specifically targeted for kids.

Last year, thirteen kids ages 10 to 14 completed the 6-week program. During the program, kids learned about health-related topics ranging from nutrition to hygiene and completed running workouts to prepare them for their final one-mile race. The final race was organized and directed by Race Day Events, LLC owner Ryan Griesmeyer. Upon completion of the race, each participant in the Miler in Training program received a t-shirt and running shoes from Fleet Feet Sports-Madison, a pair of shorts, socks and other assorted door prizes.  Here is a link to a great article published in Madison Magazine last year.

To help fund the program in 2010, proceeds from Fleet Feet’s Miler in Training program will pay for the shoes and work out gear for each of the kids participating in the program. With your help, we can continue to fulfill our program goal that each participant walk (or run!) away from the program with a positive attitude toward exercise and knowledge on how to take charge of their health.

The cost for the Fleet Feet Miler in Training Program is $60 until April 1st, and $75 after April 1st. The Mini Miler in Training Program for 6-11 year olds is $40 until April 1st and $50 after April 1st. The cost for the program includes six track workouts at the Verona High School, the Capitol Mile race entry fee and a technical tee.  The remainder will be donated to the Allied Program.

The next time you are at Fleet Feet Sports Madison you will notice the beaded teeter totter on our counter. If you throw in your loose change, the proceeds will be split between the Allied Miler in Training Program and the Lesedi Project with Balega Sports. Thank you for your support of these great programs. For more information about the Lesedi Project, please check out www.fleetfeetsports.com/lesedi-program.

PennieS for playgrounds

Ethembeni school:

In the heart of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, nestled in the magical valley of a thousand hills, lies the Ethembeni School.  The school is home to some 300 disabled and disadvantaged children.  Ethembeni means "place of hope" and that is exactly what it has become for the physically and visually disabled children who both live and study there.

The school only receives partial funding from the state and relies more and more on private benefactors and the extended community for support.

Fleet Feet Sports has been working with Balega since 2006 to raise funds for various projects at the Ethembeni School.  In 2006 Fleet Feet Sports and Balega started by raising enough funds to pay the tuition for 10 kids to live and study at the school.  Then we were able to raise enough money to donate a specially outfitted bus - one that could accommodate wheelchairs and other needs - to transport the children around the area to various events, including sporting events.

Our current goal is to raise enough funds to build a sports field and playground to eliminate the need for the students to travel to practice.  This will also give the kids the opportunity to play and enjoy life even more on the grounds of their own school and home.

Tigers on the run:

Tigers on the Run is a free after school program for students of Glendale Elementary School; located on Madison's Southeast side.  University of Wisconsin students involved in the Marathon/Running class volunteer their time to teach the students about health and fitness as well as give them a fun and safe after school activity.

Fleet Feet Sports is continuously working with them to help raise funds for supplies for the program from year to year.  Supplies include providing and fitting the students for quality running shoes to help keep them healthy and safe while running.  This will allow them to continue running, hopefully injury free, as a healthy activity throughout their lives.  As well as tools to be used in the teachings and activities.

If you are interested in further supporting the Tigers on the Run program, please contact Ron Cards at carda@education.wisc.edu.