GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.,
July 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Meijer
and SKECHERS teamed up earlier this week to give away new pairs of
BOBS from SKECHERS shoes to 1,000 Indianapolis children in need, during a day of
fun at Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center – the practice complex
of the Indianapolis Colts.
"Meijer was built on a fundamental philosophy of supporting the
communities where our customers and team members work and live,"
said Lynn Hempe, group vice
president of softlines for the Grand
Rapids, Mich.-based retailer. "We've worked with SKECHERS
for a decade, and are thrilled to bring that partnership to another
level by providing children with a brand new pair of shoes that
they can call their own. It was a fun day for everyone
involved."
Since the BOBS from SKECHERS program launched in 2011, SKECHERS
has donated more than 8 million pairs of new shoes to children in
need in more than 30 countries worldwide.
"Meijer is a strong retail partner for our BOBS footwear
program, so we wanted to create a special event together and give
back in a big way," said Gerald
Turetzky, national sales manager for BOBS from SKECHERS.
"We're proud that 1,000 children in the Indianapolis community received a new pair of
BOBS shoes, plus a memorable day of fun at the Colts Practice
Facility."
After receiving their shoes, the children had fun decorating
them with paint pens. The shoe donation event also included a mini
football camp inside the Colts' practice facility, a chance to view
the Super Bowl trophy, and meet the team's cheerleaders and mascot,
Blue.
"Meijer has been a longstanding partner of ours in the
community," said Stephanie
Pemberton, Colts Senior Director of Marketing. "We were
honored to have another opportunity to serve alongside them and
provide an incredibly special day for so many central Indiana children."
K.I.D.S./Fashion Delivers worked with Children's Bureau and Boys
& Girls Clubs of Indianapolis
to identify children to receive the shoes.
"Partnerships are key to community betterment," said
Tina Cloer, president and CEO of
Children's Bureau. "We are grateful to SKECHERS and Meijer for
allowing Children's Bureau families a day of fun and shoes."
"We are grateful for community partners who are willing to give
to our youth," said Rick Whitten,
executive director of Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis. "Many of our club kids come from
homes in which this kind of giving makes a major impact. With the
new school year approaching, we know many will be excited to
receive this kind gift."
Downloadable photos from the event are available at
http://newsroom.meijer.com/skechers-shoe-donation. B-roll is
available for interested media at
http://newsroom.meijer.com/broll-footage.
About Meijer: Meijer is a Grand
Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates 210 supercenters
and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. As a pioneer of the "one-stop
shopping" concept, Meijer stores have evolved through the years to
include expanded fresh produce and meat departments, as well as
pharmacies, comprehensive electronics departments, garden centers
and apparel offerings. Additional information on Meijer can be
found at www.meijer.com. Follow Meijer on Twitter
@twitter.com/Meijer and @twitter.com/MeijerPR or become a fan at
www.facebook.com/meijer.
About SKECHERS USA,
Inc.: SKECHERS USA, Inc.
(NYSE: SKX), based in Manhattan Beach,
California, designs, develops and markets a diverse range of
lifestyle footwear for men, women and children, as well as
performance footwear for men and women. SKECHERS footwear is
available in the United States via
department and specialty stores, Company-owned SKECHERS retail
stores and its e-commerce website, and in over 100 countries and
territories through the Company's international network of
subsidiaries in Canada,
Brazil, Chile, Japan,
and across Europe, as well as
through joint ventures in Asia and
distributors around the world. For more information, please visit
www.skechers.com, and follow us on Facebook
(www.facebook.com/SKECHERS) and Twitter
(twitter.com/SKECHERSUSA).
About K.I.D.S./Fashion Delivers: K.I.D.S./Fashion
Delivers unites retailers, manufacturers, foundations and
individuals to provide people impacted by poverty and tragedy with
new merchandise, effectively distributed through a network of
agency partners to improve the well-being, self-esteem and dignity
of at-risk families and individuals. To date, over $1 billion of donated products have been
distributed through our network, serving the poor and disadvantaged
worldwide. For more information, visit: donateproduct.com.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis: Since 1893, Boys & Girls
Clubs of Indianapolis have served
the Indianapolis community. With
11 Club locations, the Clubs provide programs for over 7,300 youth
in the areas of career exploration and educational enhancement,
citizenship and leadership, the arts, and health and fitness. For
additional information, please call 317-920-4700 or visit
www.BGCIndy.org.
About Children's Bureau, Inc.: Children's Bureau is a
well-established nonprofit working on behalf of abused and
neglected children and families in Indiana. Through our more than 17 programs, we
act as an advocate for all children and families focusing on those
that are at-risk. We provide a full array of community based
prevention and intervention services and work in partnership with
the Department of Child Services and various other community
organizations statewide. Currently, we provide child and family
social services in over 40 counties throughout Indiana to nearly 43,000 annually. More
information about Children's Bureau is available at
www.childrensbureau.org.
Contact:
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Christina Fecher,
616-735-7968
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christina.fecher@meijer.com
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Lauren Dutko,
424-254-6084
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laurend@skechers.com
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SOURCE Meijer; SKECHERS USA,
Inc.