Dec. 4, 2008
The West Coast Conference (WCC) has partnered with Zappos in an effort to donate new and gently used shoes to those in need through a Soles4Souls shoe collection.
"Community engagement is one of the most important shared values of our member institutions. We are very excited to work with Soles4Souls and Zappos on this important project which will benefit communities both in the U.S. and all over the world," said WCC Commissioner Jamie Zaninovich. "We hope that our schools will meet this challenge with excitement and grasp this opportunity to fulfill their philanthropic missions."
Beginning in December, all eight WCC schools will be invited to participate by placing various shoe donation boxes around campus, just in time for the holiday season. Schools will also be asked to raise awareness through their Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representatives and student-fan groups, and then starting in January, to place boxes in their gyms during conference basketball games. The school that donates the most shoes by February 26th will be recognized at the WCC Menʼs and Womenʼs Basketball Championships in March and awarded a pre-game party for their student-fan group at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
The Orleans Arena will also have donation boxes around the arena concourse during the WCC Championships, in an effort to support the cause. The WCCʼs partnership with Zappos, the leading provider for online shoes, includes being the presenting sponsor for this Soles4Souls shoe collection, in addition to a more extensive conference-wide sponsorship. The Las Vegas based company will also have a significant presence at the Championships at the Orleans Arena.
By taking part in this community service initiative, the West Coast Conference will be joining a generous group of footwear companies, retailers, churches, nonprofit ministries, civic groups, and other individuals working to fulfill the Soles4Souls mission: "Changing the world one pair at a time."
For more information, please visit the Soles4Souls website at www.soles4souls.org or email WCC Director of Compliance and Student Services Sarah Arens at sarens@westcoast.org.
Soles4Souls
Soles4Souls is a non-profit organization based out of Alabama that was created by Wayne Elsey as a response to the 2004 tsunami that hit Southeast Asia. Now, after having coordinated relief efforts for the Asian Tsunami and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Soles4Souls has already successfully donated over one million pairs of shoes to those hurting both domestically and internationally.
Zappos
Zappos.com was founded in 1999 with the goal of becoming the premiere destination for online shoes. Since then, Zappos has become the industryʼs leader in online shoes and expanded their online offerings to include handbags, clothing, electronics and more. Zappos is a Las Vegas based company, home of the 2009 WCC Menʼs and Womenʼs Basketball Championships.
IMG-College
IMG-College is the leader in developing integrated licensing, marketing, and multi-media opportunities for the nation's top collegiate brands across local, regional, and national platforms. IMG-College partners include the NCAA and its 88 championships, NCAA Football, leading conferences, and some of the most prestigious universities in the country. IMG-College is a division of global sports and entertainment company IMG. For more information, please visit www.imgcollege.com.
West Coast Conference
The West Coast Conference was formed in 1952 and has evolved and grown to become a nationally recognized and competitive force in Division I intercollegiate athletics, with 13 conference-sponsored sports: baseball, men's and women's basketball, women's crew, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's tennis and women's volleyball. The WCC is characterized by the stability of its membership - only two conference have been together longer - and its unique emphasis on combining excellence in athletics with excellence in academics.
