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Non-Profit Invites Companies to Ditch Dress Shoes for Sneakers

Back on My Feet's "Sneaker Week" campaign offers employee engagement during National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week

Non-Profit Invites Companies to Ditch Dress Shoes for Sneakers

Back on My Feet's "Sneaker Week" campaign offers employee engagement during National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week

Published 09-27-11

Submitted by Back on My Feet

Back on My Feet, the national non-profit organization that uses running as a vehicle to promote self-sufficiency within the homeless population, is inviting companies to participate in its first national “Sneaker Week” campaign from November 14 to the 18, which is also National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. The campaign is simple -participating companies allow their employees to wear sneakers to work for a $5 donation to Back on My Feet. Companies can register for free on Back on My Feet’s website.

“Sneaker Week has two goals: to raise $1 million to help 500 of our Members change their lives and to combat the negative and erroneous stereotypes about individuals experiencing homelessness,” said Anne Mahlum, founder and CEO of Back on My Feet. “This campaign, just like our organization, doesn’t discriminate as every company, school, organization, law firm and individual is invited to participate.”

Back on My Feet hopes to engage 200,000 people in Sneaker Week, which will enable the organization to move 500 more people experiencing homelessness toward self-sufficiency. Companies like Accenture, AT&T, Booz Allen Hamilton, Comcast, Global Fit, John Hancock, Marriott, Pepsi Co., White Lodging and more have already committed to the campaign. Interested companies need only register online to get involved.

“This campaign allows us to engage our employees in an exciting way about an issue that greatly impacts the communities we live and work in,” said Michael Bennett, Vice President of Communications at White Lodging, a national company that’s involving employees and hotel guests in Sneaker Week. “We appreciate Back on My Feet’s creativity around this campaign where everyone can give a little and make a big difference.”

Back on My Feet has chapters in Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Indianapolis, Philadelphia and Washington, DC. Since 2008, the organization has helped hundreds of people across the country secure employment and independent housing.

About Back on My Feet
Back on My Feet, launched in Philadelphia in 2007, is a non-profit organization that promotes the self-sufficiency of people experiencing homelessness by engaging them in running to build strength, confidence and self-esteem. Members run Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings and must maintain 90 percent attendance to move forward in the program and gain access to job training, employment and housing opportunities. The organization has received media support, including attention from NBC Nightly News, ABC World News, CNN and TODAY for its ingenuity in tackling this difficult social issue. More information can be found at backonmyfeet.org.

Back on My Feet logo

Back on My Feet

Back on My Feet

Back on My Feet is a national nonprofit organization that promotes the self-sufficiency of people experiencing homelessness by engaging them in running as a means to build confidence, strength and self-esteem. Individuals living in homeless shelters participate in Back on My Feet's six to nine month running-based program in which members earn the opportunity to move their lives forward through the many resources provided within the program, such as financial literacy, education, workforce development, legal aid and employment and housing opportunities.

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