TOMS Shoes » The Giving Side

who are we?

swalpert — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 18:55:31 +0000

I’ve gotten several questions since I started these intern updates regarding just what it takes to be a TOMS HQ intern. Each time I usually respond that you must be hard working, passionate, driven, smart, and eager to learn. But then as I thought about my fellow interns, it occurred to me that you must also be unique, silly, fun, and just plain awesome. I have not properly introduced my fellow interns to you guys and I think EVERYONE should see just how amazing these people are. So I present… the TOMS Spring 2010 Intern Class!

From left to right: Amanda, Heather, Julia, Jessie, Dianna, Sarah, Mike, Grace, Alex, Carly, David and our intern coordinator Caroline in front

Sarah – Social Media

Hometown: Augusta, GA

Fun Fact: I don’t have a belly button

Favorite Food: My Grandma’s CHEESE GRITS!!

Best Part About Working at TOMS: Being around incredible people who work hard and make a difference every day

Most Embarrassing “Intern Moment”: Bowling a 44 on my first “Fun Friday” at TOMS… I had the lowest score out of the whole company. Awesome.

Grace – Retail Marketing

Hometown: Old Lyme, CT

Fun Fact: I am from Old Lyme, Connecticut — Home of Lyme disease! I think I’m immune…

Favorite Food: Beans and Rice

Best Part About Working at TOMS: The awesome music that is always playing in the office

Most Embarrassing “Intern Moment” So Far: Having to ask how to use the phone at my desk

Dianna – Alternative Sales

Hometown: Thousand Oaks, CA

Fun Fact: I was the drummer of a punk band when I was in Jr. High called “Persecuted.” Then my freshman year, I was the cymbal captain in the marching band.

Favorite Food: Panda Express: orange chicken, chow mein.

Best Part About Working at TOMS: I love being at HQ constantly surrounded by creative people who passionately believe in the One for One Movement.

Most Embarrassing “Intern Moment” So Far: I feel like we are new little puppies who want everyone to like us, so sometimes we like to “show up” to places where other employees might be without actually getting an invite. I can’t believe I just admitted this…

Mike – Web Design

Hometown: Dallas, TX

Fun Fact: I hit 40 mph on my bmx bike

Favorite Food: Kogi BBQ and Texas BBQ

Best Part About Working at TOMS: The people rock

Most Embarrassing “Intern Moment” So Far: Getting in trouble and then paged on the loud speaker for storing my bike in Blake’s closet

Julia – International Online Marketing

Hometown: Rostock, Germany

Fun Fact: I’ve developed an American accent when I speak German, so whenever I go home to Germany, people ask me where I’m from. Seriously?!

Favorite Food: I put cheese and ranch dressing on almost everything that is edible

Best part about working at TOMS: Being able to learn about marketing strategies from my manager

Most Embarassing “Intern Moment” So Far: Nothing yet… but I’m sure it’s coming.

Jessie – Human Resources

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Fun Fact: I am completely addicted to the TV show “Dirty Jobs”… when there’s a marathon on it’s my own personal heaven

Favorite Food: Crispy french fries

Best Part About Working at TOMS: Belonging to the family

Most Embarrassing “Intern Moment” So Far: My pants split when I bent over to pick something up

Alex – Online Analyst

Hometown: Arlington, TX

Fun Fact: I went to chemistry camp after my junior year of high school. SO cool…

Favorite Food: Cheese, all types, and bacon-wrapped figs

Best Part About Working at TOMS: The energetic atmosphere at HQ

Most Embarrassing “Intern Moment” So Far: To be determined…

David – Friends of TOMS

Hometown: Yorba Linda, CA

Fun Fact: I am pretty much an expert Cribbage player.

Favorite Food: My Grandma’s Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

Best Part About Working at TOMS: The company culture is amazing and the work I’m doing is very fulfilling.

Most Embarrassing “Intern Moment” So Far: I guess it was when I read “personal message” out loud as “personal massage” in our meeting the other day. Oops!

Carly – Creative

Hometown: Fountain Hills, AZ

Fun Fact: In 7th grade basketball the only shot I made was for the opposing team. But to this day, my Dad will tell you how awesome/quick I was on the court with 100% Dad Pride.

Favorite Food: Fro-yo. Duh!

Best Part About Working at TOMS: If I say learning… does that make me a nerd?

Most Embarrassing “Intern Moment” So Far: My first day!! Blake decided to take the desk next to mine to see the ins and outs of creative first hand. Pretty much had a nervous stutter all day.

Amanda – Giving

Hometown: Malibu, CA

Fun Fact: I am fluent in ANCIENT Greek

Favorite Food: French Fries

Best Part About Working at TOMS: Spending my time finding more ways to get shoes on feet that need them.

Most Embarrassing “Intern Moment” So Far: Not realizing TOMS’ phone # shows up on caller ID…I’ll leave it at that.

Heather – Creative

Hometown: Kansas City, KS

Fun Fact: I was voted most likely to be a millionaire in middle school. I wish…!

Favorite Food: Korean Food all the way!

Best part about working at TOMS: All the different projects I get to be a part of and, of course, the cool people!!

Most Embarrassing “Intern Moment” So Far: There’s this speed bump right outside Toms HQ and I trip over it EVERY single time… usually in front of people.

So… who are we?? We are TOMS interns.

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artist skillz from an 11 year old TOMS fan

admin — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:46:49 +0000

One of our awesome young fans, Anna, recently sent us this drawing of her newest pair of TOMS shoes! Not only is she generous, but she’s an artist as well Thank you guys for continuing to inspire us every day. Keep sending us your pics, letters, and drawings!!

Sending snail mail?
TOMS Shoes
attn: Awesome Social Media Dept.
3025 Olympic Blvd. Studio C
Santa Monica, CA 90404

Prefer digital style?
Sarah.Walpert@TOMSshoes.com

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introducing the one for one necklace

admin — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:11:48 +0000

Exciting news! TOMS has added a new One for One item – a pendant necklace!

When Friends of TOMS volunteers visited New Orleans in 2009, local jeweler Thomas Mann created pewter parachute pendant necklaces for each volunteer. The shoe and parachute icon has been representing “Shoe Drops” for the past couple years, although TOMS doesn’t literally “drop” shoes – volunteers hand place each pair on children’s feet. The One for One note inscribed on the back of each pendant reminds volunteers of their full-circle commitment to the One for One movement. But now, beyond volunteers, these special pieces are available to all TOMS supporters exclusively on TOMSshoes.com. They will retail at $28 and are sure to be the perfect everyday accessory for the cause-driven and fashionable individual. Just like with t-shirts, a pair of new shoes will be given to a child in need for every necklace sold.

We’re giving away one of these necklaces this week!

Enter your info here. Good luck!

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sean’s trip to ethiopia

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:43:51 +0000

Sean Scott, TOMS Chief Shoe Maker (aka Product Development Leader), travels to Ethiopia to learn more about how TOMS can serve the community in providing the most appropriate shoes. These clips, from November 2008 and June 2009, follow Sean as he looses his luggage, explores new potential factories, and meets with local partners.

In case you missed the TOMS segment on the CBS Evening News last night, visit the links below to learn more about TOMS efforts in Ethiopia and Friends of TOMS support of those stricken with Podoconiosis.

Photo Gallery – Video – Article

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TOMS is helping Friends of TOMS win “america’s giving challenge”

admin — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:15:05 +0000

We know that TOMS has the most loyal and generous supporters around, and now we want to prove it to America! Help us win $50,000 for Friends of TOMS to go on more TOMS Shoe Drops and fight Podo.

We have until November 6^th to show everyone how incredible TOMS supporters are and all it takes is a small sacrifice from each of you. Can you pass up a sandwich and a drink to help someone walk again? How about that movie on Friday night? All it takes is $10 to help us win America’s Giving Challenge, a Facebook Cause contest, which awards the nonprofit with the highest number of donations from now until the end of the contest on November 6^th.

The total amount donated doesn’t matter! We just need to have more TOMS fans donate more often than supporters for other nonprofits in order to earn $50,000 for Friends of TOMS. Ten TOMS supporters giving $10 is better than one giving $100. And TOMS supporters are already so good at giving. They do it every time they shop for new TOMS!

So please help us by donating the money you usually use for dessert , laundry (we won’t tell), or lose in the couch to help us fight disease and get more shoes to children in need.

Here is how the contest works. Go to the TOMS Facebook page to find the link to America’s Giving Challenge and donate.

Each day, the nonprofit with the highest number of donations wins $1000, and on November 6^th, whichever non-profit has had the highest number of total unique donations wins $50,000. This money can help us help so many people in need of treatment for Podoconiosis and put shoes on the feet of so many children who do not have any, so please think about what a simple $10 donation can do. You can give a small amount and still have a huge impact!

We need your help EVERY DAY of this contest!

Thank You!

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ready for our longest, most powerful blog ever?!?

admin — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 05:10:56 +0000

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 first annual shoe drop volunteer reunion weekend

admin — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:36:23 +0000

The Friends of TOMS team at TOMS headquarters had a blast with our 50+ Shoe Drop Volunteers for the annual Shoe Drop Reunion. What a great weekend with so many wonderful people!

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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‘09 shoe drop volunteer reunion

admin — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:27:33 +0000

The Friends of TOMS team at the TOMS headquarters has been very busy preparing for the arrival of 50+ Shoe Drop Volunteers for the annual Shoe Drop Volunteer Reunion. Past volunteers are flying in from all around the globe to join us, and we can’t wait to re-connect with these passionate members of our TOMS family. Big thanks go out to Summer 09 intern Gloria Hwang for planning the details during her internship!

The weekend starts this evening here at HQ. We will screen print some t-shirts, eat some delicious dinner and get a chance to hear what’s new and exciting in everyone’s lives.

Tomorrow, the team is volunteering with Coastal Clean Up in the morning and finishing up the day with an awesome picnic on the beach! Can’t wait to share the beauty of the Santa Monica coast with so many people who have never been here.

Its wonderful to know our family of Shoe Drop volunteers continues to grow every year. Having personally been on a Shoe Drop myself in 2008, I know the experience of personally giving a child his or her first pair of shoes- a pair that fit, a pair they love- is undeniably a life changing experience… something you can only imagine until you have the wonderful opportunity to share in that moment. But each of our experiences as a Shoe Drop volunteer are uniquely different too, which makes me so eager to chat with other volunteers this weekend!

With less than 12 hours to go, all of us at TOMS are looking forward to their arrival. We’ll be tweeting this weekend too, so make sure to follow Friends of TOMS on Twitter @FriendsofTOMS.

- Kelli

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holiday matinee custom TOMS

admin — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:29:05 +0000

Last month, good blogger friend Dave Brown invited Friends of TOMS to participate in his 10 year anniversary event for the Holiday Matinee blog. In addition to collecting a percentage of the profits from the night to benefit Friends of TOMS, we also got to meet some amazing people and share an awesome evening. An update from Dave below on the shoes some local artists painted for the event.

Hey TOMS crew,
We just finished hanging the artist series of TOMS Shoes in our office. 11 local artists each designed a pair specifically for our 10 Year Anniversary party that benefited Friends of TOMS. You’ll have to come back to San Diego and check out the exhibit in person. The detail on a lot of the shoes are absolutely incredible!
Much love + respect,
Dave

Founder, Holiday Matinee
www.holidaymatinee.com

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TOMS climb high in haiti

admin — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:10:26 +0000

My friend and I went to Milot, Haiti this summer and took some pictures with our TOMS. We climbed this huge mountain to the top of the Citadel; a haitian fortress that King Christophe built back in the 1800’s. We also worked in our TOMS most of the trip and it was sweet!

Peace be with you

-Roman

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