I recently went on a Shoe Drop to South Africa and my eyes were opened to the impact that a pair of shoes makes on a child’s life.  I will never forget the day we arrived at a school where the HIV rate was close to 50% amongst the 1,000 children that attended the school. Many of these kids had absolutely nothing.  When we first arrived we unloaded all of the shoes from the truck and prepared to give the kids a pair of new shoes.

As the kids began flooding in, we started to give shoes to each individual child. You could hear their laughter and excitement as the kids were amazed by their new gifts.  There was one child that walked up to me, and looking down upon his feet, I was paralyzed by what I saw. They were covered in cuts, bruises, blisters, and warts.  As I sat there on my knees I looked up at his face and saw the excitement in his eyes.  As I reached with hand outstretched and as he came in for the most epic high five of my life, I said LETS DO THIS!

Trying to find the proper shoe to fit his foot was filled with the same joy you might experience when searching for the perfect gift for a loved one. We tried size 42, too big. Size 40 seemed too small, it had to be the 41. I said to him, “THIS IS IT!” His face lit up with joy in anticipation of his new gift. VICTORY!!! We found the right one. He then seemed as though he didn’t know what to do next…  “Should I run first, should I jump, go kick the soccer ball??….”

I cannot begin to explain the feeling of joy I felt with what happened next.  He turned to walk away, but then turned back and jumped into my arms, calling me his “dear friend.”  It was in that moment I realized that literally every pair makes a difference.  Every pair that is given truly makes an impact as there are now thousands of children who have experienced that same anticipation, joy, and excitement that I witnessed with that child in South Africa.

Although those moments have passed and I’ve been back at HQ for months now, those experiences are fueling a big project that will launch this weekend. Details to come soon, but know that every single child who receives a pair of shoes has a story like this one. And every single person who purchases a pair initiated that story… whether it’s 1 of 100, 1 of 1,000 or 1 of 10,000- each 1 has an impact.

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After your first year at TOMS, you’re given the opportunity to see the One for One commitment come full circle. For many of us, the experience in South Africa was our first Shoe Drop.

Chapter 1: we prepare… and we go.

Stay tuned for Chapter 2: footage from our week of Shoe Drops in Durban and how the experience affected each of us.

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On a side note, this was the most difficult set to rank. How is one awesome Shoe Drop moment better than another awesome Shoe Drop moment? So please, take the ranking with a grain of salt. They’re all number 1’s in our book.

10. Argentina, April 2009: Have you ever seen a happier face?

9. South Africa, October 2009: Boys will be boys.

Photo credit: Marc Falkenstien

8. Argentina, January 2009: Chief Shoe Giver is a pro at hand placing TOMS.

7. South Africa, October 2009: a Zulu dancer gives his new TOMS the ultimate test.

Photo credit: Marc Falkenstien

6. New Orleans, April 2009: Ana Maria, who coordinates Shoe Drops for TOMS, shares a big smile with a student in New Orleans.

Photo credit: Cambria Harkey Photography

5. New Orleans, April 2009: New Orleans students jump high with their custom TOMS.

Photo credit: Cambria Harkey Photography

4. South Africa, October 2009: The proper way to conclude a Shoe Drop? PLAY!

3. New Orleans, August 2009: A TOMS intern makes new friends in NOLA.

Photo credit: Allie Dominguez

2. Ethiopia, October 2009: Whether you’re in the States or all the way in Africa, one thing remains: kids are silly!

Photo credit: Kwaku Alston

1. Beautiful girls in South Africa pose and show us how proud they are of their new TOMS in October 2009.

Photo credit: Marc Falkenstien

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10. Blake gets silly while encouraging Facebook users to support Friends of TOMS buy purchasing a special “TOMS Facebook Gift” in April.

9. At the TOMS Holiday karaoke party, he delivered a surprise performance as “Garth Brooks”.

8. Blake spoke at many college campuses, hoping to inspire and motivate a new generation of entreprenuers with the One for One story.

7. He let his competitive side show with Ping Pong challenges at the launch of TOMS in Neiman Marcus.

6. He traveled to South Africa in October to see the Element collab come full circle.

5. He represented TOMS at the NOLA Shoe Drop for Good Morning America.

Click on the image to visit ABC and watch the segment.

4. He gave a heartfelt speech when accepting the Award for Corporate Excellence.

Click on the image to visit Blake’s blog and read his speech.

3. Blake and TOMS were featured on CNBC’s The Entrepreneurs.

Watch the segment on the TOMS website: click here!

2. He became “that guy on that AT&T commercial”.

A still from the AT&T commercial that first aired in April.

1. When he returned from Ethiopia, he got us pumped about the work TOMS is doing there.

CLICK HERE to read Blake’s inspirational letter.

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In the days before we left for the trip, we were stopped endlessly by our colleagues, “Well, are you ready?!”  We just shook our heads, laughed and smiled, “I guess so!” We had no clue we would fall in love with a 6 year girl on day five, we didn’t know we’d cry when we walked in to a school on day four and hundreds of children were singing in unison to us. We didn’t predict our first day would end with a 30 minute conversation in slow, broken English about school and America and family atop a 20 foot skate ramp outside Durban.

And now, after six weeks of reminiscing and “I miss you!” posts on Facebook with the other volunteers and the Element crew, we’re sharing our stories with our fellow employees here at HQ.

Matt from Customer Service led the slide show put together by Heidi in our media department while Jonathan, Justin, Kelli, Ana Maria, Fion, Megan, Garett, and I threw in extra tidbits about how AWESOME the entire experience was.

Matt telling stories to the crowd in the back of the office

A kid getting ready to jump off the pier to surf. He is part of the Uthumbo program in Durban that provides a safe haven for street kids, teaching them art, and how to surf and skate.

The TOMS + Element South Africa Shoe Drop crew

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Friends,

As I wait to board my flight back home after 16 days in Africa, I am consumed with emotions, children’s faces, funny memories and visions of the future. I am alone right now, but feel deeply connected to each of the volunteers, camera men and women and friends who I spent my time with the past few weeks, and I feel especially connected to each of the TOMS family members I will be returning to. I believe each of us has a mission in life, and that one cannot truly be living their most fulfilled life until they recognize this mission and dedicate their life to pursuing it. Sometimes one lasts for two weeks or two months, or possibly 20 years. I have given my life to several over the past 33 years, but none of them have resonated so deeply with my soul as the one I am currently pursuing. This mission is not singular in its track, but consists of several evolving pursuits interconnected by the TOMS movement. I would like to share each of those with you in hopes that you will continue to support me and hold me accountable in fulfilling them.

Click here to read more from Blake’s letter.

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The opening night started the weekend off with a bang. We screen printed custom Shoe Drop t-shirts with maps of Shoe Drop locations, parachutes, and more. It was a HUGE success,  and everyone took home their own custom shirt. My personal favorite will always be the TOMS shoes parachutes. I’d decorate all over with those little parachutes!

Blake also gave a very inspiring speech to the group and past Shoe Dropper Olivia made the cutest cake  imaginable.

The Shoe Drop staff from Argentina even flew up from Buenos Aires to join us. We couldn’t be happier to see Alejo, Pablo and Pepe around HQ, especially since this is Pepe’s first time in the United States!

It was wonderful to share TOMS headquarters and Santa Monica with all of our extended Shoe Drop Family in such a fun way. Sharing memories, stories and new ideas is such a refreshing experience. Someone mentioned how we all share a great common bond… and they were certainly right.

Thanks so much to everyone who made the trip, can’t wait for next time! Don’t stay away too long guys!

-Kelli

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With that being said, the deadline has come and passed and two winners have been chosen. In 1 month and 7 days, these two winning individuals will meet their fellow volunteers from Element, TOMS, Fuel TV, and other participants from around the US. They touch down in Durban South Africa and exchange their feelings of anticipation excitement. They will walk outside the airport doors, board a van to the outskirts, and embark on an unforgettable adventure.

To the winners: Your entries blew us away. TOMS and Element are proud to have you on board, and we can’t wait to meet you…

CONGRATULATIONS Nate Eckhert and Marco Barbosa! Their entries after the jump…

Marco Barbosa:

Because it‚s not a complicated task to live our lives collecting victories and keeping them to ourselves.  There is also no challenge required to close your eyes to reality and live a fulfilled life that concerns only your needs.

Each life was created with a unique experience to be shared among others.  The voice of people in need has echoed through too many generations.  I believe it is my obligation to understand the effects of poverty in the world we live in and to help to plant the seeds for change.  If I can not make a difference in somebody else‚s life what is the purpose of my own?  What will my accomplishments be if they  are restricted only to myself and to those I know?

When I saw the ad about Toms Shoes during the Blackberry commercial,  I had no idea who he was or the core of his business.  My life was touched immediately by his commitment to these children.  Soon after, I found myself collecting information about the shoe drop.  For some reason I was scared thinking about being involved in such an important mission.  I knew I had to move forward with my plans, but I remained aprehensive.  I showed my wife and asked her opinion about it.  She was as excited about the Tom/Element connection as I was.  She then commented on how this project, as well as its participants were a perfect match for me.‰Wow, this is exactly who you are. This speaks to all of your talents!,‰ she said.

I want to make a difference, man.  I want to tell my kids (4 years and 3 months old) where Dad was, with whom dad was and why Dad was there. I want my children to have the same passion growing inside their hearts.  It is my wish, and God knows me well enough to undertand my reasons regarding this issue.

I came from Brazil in 1999 and I have seen what poverty can do to a child.  I know how a life can be affected or in most of the scenarios – taken away.  In 2006 I started a business with one single goal, to be a blessing.  To inspire people through what a man full of dreams and faith can do.  For me, it‚s about how many lives can be touched and how that faith can be passed on.  I want to be the one to invite people to go with me during the process.  Going to South Africa would give me one more reason to believe that it is possible and that this seed growing within me is about to create new roots.  I need to see those little eyes and learn with them.  I need to place the shoes on their feet.  I need to see them running with them.  I want to see them flying to the other side of the ramp or picking themselves up after a stunt crash.

Among all of the causes that I have searched through, this one is by far the closest to the path that my soul was designed to pursue.  I have no doubts that I want to be part of this tremendous opportunity.  It‚s got to be now.  It can‚t wait until tomorrow.  At this point I just can‚t look back.  My life was made to live in abundance not just for my victories but more importantly, in the victories of others (especially if their running in shoes).

Nate Eckhart:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0sTu0cJVHo&feature=related

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Win a spot on the TOMS + Element Shoe + Board Drop this October! Deadline is August 15th, so sharpen your writing skills and submit your essay today!

click here to go to the application.

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