In 2002, Blake Mycoskie and his sister Paige competed in the CBS reality program The Amazing Race.

During their travels in that competition, Blake and Paige travelled through Argentina. Although they lost the $1 million prize in the contest by 4 minutes, the experience had a significant impact on Blake. In 2006, Blake returned to Argentina for a vacation from his fourth entrepreneurial start-up, which was an online driver’s education program for teenagers. While in Argentina, Blake noticed that a very popular shoe worn by the Argentinian people was a casual canvas shoe called the alpargata. The versatile shoe was worn in diverse areas of the country, on farms and in the cities, including in nightclubs. Blake thought this style of shoe would have a market in the United States. At the end of his vacation, Blake met an American women in a café who was volunteering for a local shoe drive for children. The shoe drive was needed because many of the children could not afford shoes, needed not only for school but also to help prevent diseases and problems related to the feet such as blisters, sores, and infections. As a result, Mycoskie established TOMS Shoes in 2006. TOMS Shoes has a very simple premise it calls its One for One program. For every pair of TOMS shoes that are sold, one new pair of shoes will be given to a child in need. Mycoskie states that giving is the driving force behind the company, and it is the foundation for growing TOMS in the future.

Mycoskie argues that shoes can have multiple benefits for children in developing countries. He cites that many schools require that shoes must be worn to attend school. In addition, the children usually must walk for miles to get to essential services such as education, clean water, and medical help. Furthermore, a number of soilbased diseases can enter the body through a child’s foot. These diseases can also affect the cognitive development of the children, negatively affecting the long-term cognitive growth potential of the children.

Potential trauma to the feet can be caused by factors such as hookworm, podoconiosis, jiggers, and tetanus.

Why TOMS?

TOMS produces its shoes in 3 countries and provides shoes to children in 23 countries. TOMS makes shoes in factories in Argentina, Ethiopia, and China and is audited by a third party to ensure that the shoes are produced by workers who receive a fair wage and do not employ child labor.

By September 2010, TOMS, via its customers, had given one million pairs of new shoes to children around the world. TOMS will return to the same villages over time to replace any outgrown for newer, larger shoes.4 By 2015, TOMS had given more than 35 million pairs of shoes to children in 70 countries. The underlying philosophy of TOMS is (1) identify communities that need shoes, (2) give shoes that fit, (3) use Giving Partners to help TOMS Shoes have a bigger impact, (4) give children shoes as they grow, and (5) ask Giving Partners to provide feedback to help TOMS Shoes improve.

Hookworms

Hookworms are a global problem and affect an estimated 576 to 740 million people worldwide. Hookworms are parasites that enter the body and live in the small intestine. Hookworms lay eggs in the small intestine that are passed in the feces of the infected person. In areas with poor personal hygiene, the feces can come in contact with another person, and when the eggs are hatched, they then penetrate the skin of the next person.

Hookworms can cause anemia through blood loss. In children, they can also cause protein loss. Hookworms were a major problem in the southeastern part of the United States until the early 20th century.

Podoconiosis

Originating from the Greek words podos (foot) and konia (dust), podoconiosis is considered a tropical disease occurring in parts of Africa, especially higher altitude areas in the eastern and central part of the continent.

Individuals develop podoconiosis from being barefoot in areas of red clay near active or inactive volcanoes. The silica found in the soil blocks lymph nodes in the lower limbs, especially the feet. This causes great swelling and pain in the individual and is commonly referred to as big foot disease. Podoconiosis usually starts with children in their early teens. The symptoms start with leg and foot pain at night and progresses to severe itching, swelling, and burning on the soles of the child’s foot. Podoconiosis only occurs in individuals who walk barefoot.

Jiggers

The jiggers, or female sand fleas, embed themselves in the feet of animals and humans. Jiggers feed on the human’s blood to survive. The blood allows the jiggers the opportunity to develop eggs. Jiggers can cause severe inflammation and ulcers in the foot. In addition, permanent damage can include loss of toenails, amputation of toes, and ultimately death. Jiggers are able to survive and thrive in areas of dirt roads where animals and people walk freely without shoes. Children are especially vulnerable because they are less likely than adults are to have shoes.

Tetanus

Tetanus is an infection of the nervous system caused by the bacteria Clostridium tetani. The bacteria lives in soil and can remain inactive for more than 40 years before becoming active. The infection occurs when the bacteria enters the body through an injury or open wound. As the bacteria spreads, it can affect the nerve signals from the spinal cord to the muscles. As a result, muscle spasms occur, usually first in the jaw, which is why tetanus is also known as lockjaw. A common form of contracting tetanus is stepping on a dirty and rusty object, usually a nail, which punctures the skin and introduces the bacteria into the body.

How One for One Works

The first step in the One for One program is establishing partnerships with global humanitarian organizations that have a long-standing history with the communities in which they serve. With their partners, TOMS identifies communities in step 2 that would benefit the most from TOMS shoes. The criterion includes economic, health, and educational conditions and needs of the community. In addition, TOMS ensures that its involvement will not have a negative impact on local businesses in the area. In step 3, TOMS ensures that the children who receive TOMS shoes also receive additional support addressing the health and educational needs of the children.

What Shoes Do They Give?

There is not a uniform type of shoes given to the children. The shoes are made to order to ensure the sizes match the needed sizes of the children. Based on the feedback received, TOMS has learned that there are cultural differences in the style of the shoes that the children want. Black is the most common color, most likely because it is the mandatory color of school shoes in many countries. In Argentina, TOMS found that the children liked very colorful shoes. In Ethiopia, the shoes are provided by local producers based on the needs of the local partners....

Questions

1. If TOMS’ model is so successful, why don’t other companies try to be socially active in a similar way?

2. Is this concept just a self-serving model so Blake Mycoskie can say he is helping people when it is really the customers who are providing the mechanism for him to take credit for doing good?

3. Compare the philanthropic activities of Soles 4 Souls and TOMS Shoes. Describe the differences and similarities of the two organizations. Which group appears to help more people, from a philanthropic view? Explain your reasoning.

4. Is giving really the driving force behind TOMS shoes, in your opinion? Explain.

5. How do you think TOMS’ model may change now that Bain Capital is its partner?