A Boy's Letter Inspires Charity and Mall to Urge Everyone to "STEP UP" to Recycle Their Gently Worn Shoes or to Donate a New Pair of Shoes for as Little as $2.00 a Pair During this Holiday Season

Contact: Kim Dettwiller, Soles4Souls, 615-330-5656, kimd@giveshoes.org; Lynn Kittel, Simon, 615-514-1100 ext 344, lkittle@simon.com; Chris Carmichael, Soles4Souls, 615-391-5723 ext 143, chrisc@giveshoes.org

NASHVILLE, October 16 /Christian Newswire/ -- Soles4Souls, the international charity dedicated to providing free footwear to those in desperate need, announced today its plans to partner with Opry Mills in Nashville, Tennessee, to host a holiday shoe drive  that will create the "World's Largest Tower of Shoes."  The shoe drive will start Wednesday, November 5, 2008 and culminate on New Year's Eve, December 31, 2008.  Throughout the holidays shoppers will be able to monitor the progress of the drive via clear panels installed in the Tower's sides. 

Soles4Souls and Opry Mills are asking Tennesseans and out-of-town visitors from across America to come to the mall during the busy holiday season, and to "Step Up" and help those hurting around the world.  Although economic times are extremely tough in the United States, anyone can support this cause with one small donation of a pair of new or "gently" worn shoes, as well as a cash donation as little as $2.00.  The rewards for participating include merchant discounts, as well as the joy and reward in helping others who need a "Step Up" in their lives.

"This is a creative and effective way for us to spread the message of our organization," said Soles4Souls Founder and CEO, Wayne Elsey.  "The amount of support we've received from local businesses and individuals has been incredible, and with their help, we are looking forward to breaking the world record for most shoes collected in a single event," he said.

"This holiday season, we are inviting the public to 'Shop Smarter' at Opry Mills and take advantage of many special amenities we are putting in place," said Marketing Director Lynn Kittel.  "The Soles4Souls initiative, with its focus on reuse and refurbishment in support of those in need, is a wonderful complement to that program."

One never knows when life will hit hard or where a disaster will strike.  One day you have everything you need; the next you may only have your life.  A pair of shoes can help people begin the rebuilding process.  Shoes not only bring them hope, but in millions of cases they can save their life.  It is estimated that Americans have 1.5 billion pairs of unworn shoes lying in their closets while over 300 billion children around the world have never owned a pair of shoes.  This is an opportunity to "Step Up" and to help Soles4Souls with their mission of "Changing the World, One Pair at a Time."

The idea for the "World's Largest Tower of Shoes" was inspired by a letter that the non-profit received earlier this year from a young boy, Joseph Wells, who held his own shoe drive last year.  His letter is titled "If I Were a Gift."  It reads:
 
If I found a magic wand and was able to turn myself into any Christmas gift I wanted, I know exactly what I would be. I would be a pair of shoes that would always fit. I know it sounds crazy, but there are people all over the world who can't afford a pair of shoes. I would give myself to a child in a country called Haiti. The people in this country are so poor that they can't even afford a pair of shoes and they cannot go to school if they aren't wearing shoes.
 
The child would be so happy when they opened me because he or she would finally be able to walk on the dirt roads without hurting their feet and they would be able to go to school because they had shoes. Who knows, maybe years from now, he or she will be one of the smartest people in the world because they got me for Christmas.

In the spirit of the holidays, participating Opry Mills merchants have agreed to "Step Up" by offering their customers a discount incentive on new merchandise for those who donate a pair of new or "gently worn" shoes.  Each store will collect the shoes and each week the shoes will be added to the main collection site in the mall to build the "World's Largest Tower of Shoes."

Participating stores as of today: Liz Claiborne Shoes, Harry & David, Hartstrings, IZOD, Off Broadway Shoes, Reebok, Regal Opry Mills 20 & IMAX, Team Choice, Island Carousel (located in the food court), Apple Barn, Lenscrafters, C & C Shirtworks, Christmas Shoppe, Aquarium Treasure Chest Gift Shop, Kirkland's.

In addition to the shoe collections and in-store incentives, merchants will offer the Soles4Souls "2-6-10: It's Good For The Sole" program to their customers.  The program offers a $2.00 cash donation for one pair of new shoes, a $6.00 cash donation will purchase three pairs of new shoes, and a $10.00 cash donation will purchase five pairs of new shoes for those in need.  

Each donation is reflected by a colorful yellow, orange and green shoe mobile showcasing a photo of a new pair of flip-flops.  Shoe mobiles will be on display at select mall retailers.  Also, every customer who donates to the "2-6-10: It's Good For The Sole" program will receive a coupon to redeem at the service desk for their choice of free gift wrap or a Soles4Souls key chain, while supplies last.

For more information and for a current list of each merchant who is supporting this cause and their individual incentives, please visit www.giveshoes.org.

Opry Mills will showcase the "World's Largest Tower of Shoes," which will be located near the courtyard area at mall entrance #2.  The 12-foot tall display will feature photographs and stories illustrating children and adults around the world who have been touched by the gift of new shoes.  At the conclusion of the shoe drive, people will virtually see the impact of how one small gift, multiplied by millions of mall visitors who have joined together, will make a tangible difference to those hurting around the world.

About Opry Mills
Opry Mills is located in Nashville, Tennessee on the Opryland grounds between Two Rivers Parkway and McGavock Pike and borders the Cumberland River.  Opry Mills is within walking distance from the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center and next door to the Grand Ole Opry.  The site is approximately seven miles from downtown Nashville. Opry Mills address is 433 Opry Mills Drive, Nashville, TN 37214, (615) 514-1000.  Regular Mall hours are Monday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m. -9:00 p.m. and Sunday, 11:00 a.m. -7:00 p.m.  Visit www.oprymills.com for information on extended holiday hours beginning November 28.

About Simon Property Group
The Mills is one of Simon Property Group's five real estate platforms. With 17 properties totaling over 24 million square feet, The Mills properties are large retail venues focused on delivering value to the consumer. The Mills brand offers a broad and unique mix of full-price, value and outlet retail and family-oriented dining and entertainment options, featuring the most popular consumer brands and concepts. Mills projects are well-located in major metropolitan markets. Notable properties include Opry Mills (Nashville), Arundel Mills (Baltimore), Grapevine Mills (Dallas) and Sawgrass Mills (Ft.Lauderdale/Miami).

About Soles4Souls
Nashville-based Soles4Souls™ facilitates the donations of both new and used shoes, which are used to aid the hurting worldwide. Since its inception, Soles4Souls has distributed more than 3.4 million pairs (or one pair every 23 seconds) to people in more than 60 countries, including Honduras, Romania, Thailand, and the Sudan.  The charity has been featured on CNN Headline News, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, ABC News, FOX, CBS, and hundreds of regional outlets around North America.  Soles4Souls is a 501(c)(3) recognized by the IRS; donating parties are eligible for tax advantages. Visit www.giveshoes.org for more information.