CEO and co-founder of Shoes For Planet Earth, Viv Kartsounis, has been selected as an Australian Ambassador for 2012.
In her role as ambassador Viv travelled to Murrurundi, in the Upper Hunter Shire for Australia Day where she participated in a number of community of activities. Chairman of the Murrundi Australia Day Working Party, Cameron Smith, said big plans were in place for the 2012 celebrations, adding “Australia Day gives us the opportunity to celebrate what’s great about being Australian.”
Viv used her position with hopes to spread the good news about how by living in Australia, one has the freedom and support to follow ones dreams and passions. Something Viv has been able to do in the form of Shoes For Planet Earth.
Shoes For Planet Earth recently sent 60 pairs of shoes to the Street Soccer program in Alice Springs.
A community initiative run by The Big Issue, an innovative magazine providing creative solutions to the issue of homelessness in Australia, the Street Soccer program is operated in a number of locations around the country.
Shoes For Planet Earth are incredibly proud to be involved in helping to facilitate such a great initiative by providing participants with the shoes required to play the sports they love.
Once again Shoes For Planet Earth has sent shoes to the wonderful South African charity Love2Give2Children for distribution.
This time around 72 pairs of shoes, donated by Sydney-based children’s shoe company Scruffy Dog, were sent to the charity.
Annabel Rosholt, who helped to distribute the shoes once they arrived in South Africa, sent us this lovely message of thanks: “In December, my daughters assisted the health care workers in identifying and handing out all the shoes to little girls in Kayamandi. The Mothers and children were absolutely delighted, and some of the children a little overwhelmed by the wonderful gift!”
You can see more photos of the recipients of these shoes at our Facebook page.
The team at Shoes For Planet Earth wish to extend a huge thank you to Emi Lowe, a student at at Comleroy Road Public School, Kurrajong, NSW, for her efforts in collecting shoes for those in need.
Emi put in months of hard word collecting used shoes from her school and local community and with the same dedication she has set about distributing them to those in need.
Thanks again Emi!
Shoes For Planet Earth team member Tony Spano recently competed in the Narrabeen Lakes 12 Hour Ultramarathon to raise funds for the charity.
We would like to extend a huge congratulations to Tony and a big thank you to all involved in making this happen; those who donated to the cause, those who cheered him on and the crew (dog included!) that helped Tony out on the day.
Thanks to Tony’s efforts, and all those involved, over $1,000 was raised for Shoes For Planet Earth!
Liz Swinton at Shespoke Fitness, a company committed to helping clients become fitter, healthier and to generally experience more well-being, has organised a Shoes Drive in Toowoomba, Queensland.
The Forty Winks store located at 657 Ruthven Streetm Toowoomba will be collecting recycled shoes until the end of February as part of the Shoes Drive initiative headed by Liz. Please wash your shoes, tie them together and drop them off at the store any time during January and February to assist Liz with this great effort.
All shoes collected during the drive will be distributed to those in need in the local community.
Shoes For Planet Earth are happy to announce we are teaming up with Fit n Fast, the fastest growing chain of health clubs in Australia, to collect more shoes for the charity.
Fit n Fast’s mission to create a ‘cheaper, better, faster’ approach to fitness is a perfect match for SFPE. Fit n Fast have 12 locations around the country and are running a shoe collection drive until the end of February at every single one of their branches.
Check out their website to find out more about them and see where you can drop off your old shoes.
Shoes For Planet Earth are happy to announce we are teaming up with Fit n Fast, the new fastest growing chain of health clubs in Australia, to collect more shoes for the charity.
They have founded a new concept in fitness, and are focused on a “cheaper, better, faster” approach to fitness. They are collecting shoes at all their 12 locations until the end of February.
Shoes For Planet Earth would love to extend a big welcome to Shannon McCann, who has joined our team as our Perth representative.
Shannon was born in North Queensland, Australia and moved to Perth when she was six years old. She has had a very illustrious running career with her specialty being the 100 meter hurdles Shannon has competed in the Australian National Championships and has run for Australia in the World University Games.
We are very excited to have Shannon on board as an ambassador for Shoes For Planet Earth and with her passion for inspiring and encouraging today’s youth, emphasizing the importance of health, equality and being sun smart we’re sure she’ll fit right in!
You can show Shannon support and find out more about her at her personal website.
The Kip McGrath Education Centre in Caboolture, Queensland, has partnered with Shoes For Planet Earth to help collect and distribute shoes within the local area, located approximately an hour north of Brisbane.
The First Kip Mcgrath Education Centre was founded in Newcastle, NSW, 36 years ago by school teachers Kip and Dug McGrath. It has since grown into a global franchise of 600 centres owned and operated by qualified, experienced teachers offering tutoring to children from pre-school through to Year 12.
The Caboolture Centre was founded, and is operated by Ben and Heather Nieuwenhuizen (pictured above) and their commitment to this new partnership allows for minimum transportation and overheads and the quickest possible distribution of shoes to those in need locally.
The Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Nedlands, near Perth, WA, held a shoes drive in the lead up to the festive season in order to collect shoes from their staff and local community for redistribution back to those who need them most in Perth.
The great initiative was undertaken by a group of staff at SCGH who accepted donations from fellow staff and members of the public in December.
There are number of centres requiring shoes in Perth, so the timing of the drive could not have been better, while people enjoyed holidays and Christmas it was great to give back to those less fortunate.
We would like to extend a big thank you to all involved in collecting and donating the 70 pairs of shoes that have since been distributed at the St Vincent de Paul Society in Osborne Park, WA.
CEO and co-founder of Shoes For Planet Earth, Viv Kartsounis, has been selected as an Australian Ambassador for 2012.
