Dec. 8, 2009
SAN BRUNO, Calif. - The West Coast Conference and Zappos.com will continue to partner together in the Zappos.com WCC Shoe Drive in an effort to donate new and gently used shoes to those in need.
This will be the second straight year that the WCC and title sponsor Zappos.com will use the WCC Basketball Championships as a platform to collect shoes and distribute them around the world through non-profit organization Soles4Souls.
"We are thrilled to once again join forces with our friends at Zappos.com to support this important initiative," said WCC Commissioner Jamie Zaninovich. "Our member institutions are committed to community service and I know Zappos.com shares our passion for causes such as this. I look forward to surpassing our aggressive goals and positively impacting the lives of so many in need."
Mirroring last year's initiative, all eight WCC schools will be placing shoe donation boxes around campus and promoting the cause at athletic events. Institutions are encouraged to place donation boxes in each school's gym during the conference basketball season, in hopes that students and fans will join in donating any shoes to the effort. Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representatives and student-fan groups will publicize the event, in order to spread awareness and increase donations around campus and in the community.
When the 2010 WCC Men's and Women's Basketball Championships roll around in March, all shoes will be tallied and the institution that donates the most will be awarded a student fan group party at their institution. The institution will also be recognized during a halftime ceremony in Las Vegas.
In addition, Zappos.com will donate 1,000 new shoes to 1,000 underprivileged youth in Las Vegas during the WCC Kidz Day, powered by Zappos.com. The event will take place before the WCC Women's Basketball Championship Game in Las Vegas on Monday, March 8th.
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.
Zappos.com
Established in 1999, Zappos.com has quickly become a leader in online apparel and footwear sales by striving to provide shoppers with the best possible service and selection. Zappos.com currently stocks millions of products from over 1000 clothing and shoe brands. Zappos.com was recognized in 2009 by FORTUNE MAGAZINE as one of the "100 BEST COMPANIES TO WORK FOR", debuting as the highest-ranking newcomer to FORTUNE's 2009 list. More information about the company's customer service philosophy, unique company culture, and job openings can be found at http://about.zappos.com.
To get a glimpse behind the scenes at Zappos, please visit http://blogs.zappos.com. More information about the "Zappos Insights" business membership program can be found at http://www.zapposinsights.com.
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.