Memphian Edward Bogard has designed a shoe that will help fight hunger. Every pair of his latest SoGiv shoes sold will provide a local hungry kid with 120 meals. The shoes were designed exclusively for the Mid-South Food Bank’s upcoming Miles for Meals Walk, Run and Roll event.
The Espadrille-inspired shoe will be revealed during a pre-launch event on Thursday, June 12th at Wish (2157 Central). The pre-launch, which will last from 6 to 8:30 p.m., will be presented on behalf of Bogard’s nonprofit organization SoGiv.
The event will feature live music from hip-hop artist Knowledge Nick and reggae artist Juju Bushman. Representatives from the Food Bank will also be in attendance to discuss its partnership with SoGiv.
“We’ve created a SoGiv/[Food Bank] inspired shoe to raise awareness and fight hunger in the Mid-South,” Bogard said. “For every pair sold, one will be given to a local child in need while also providing [them with] 120 meals.”
Everyone who participates in Miles for Meals and raises a donation of $60 or more will receive a pair of shoes. The shoe resembles the Espadrille design and boasts the Food Bank’s logo on the back, and SoGiv’s signature “Continent 2 Continent” logo on the outside.
Bogard said he aspires to raise $15,000 for the Food Bank through the limited edition shoe while donating 500 pairs or more to local children in need.
The shoe is one of the latest efforts of SoGiv, a nonprofit organization that designs and sells shoes to raise and donate money towards combating one of its 18 identified causes. SoGiv causes include cancer, HIV/AIDS, heart disease, obesity, animal cruelty, world hunger, and several others.
“One of my favorite parts about SoGiv is that while it is a global initiative, I love the transparency and the impact that we make locally benefiting kids and the homeless right here in Memphis and across the Mid-South,” Bogard said. “So if you’re in Orange Mound or Binghampton, you get to see the tangible impact that we make when you see a kid walking with a pair of SoGiv shoes on. That’s a pretty awesome feeling to know that your donation really went towards the greater good and helping someone in need.”
Miles for Meals is an annual event. This year, it will be held Saturday, September 27th at Audubon Park (4145 Southern Ave). It starts at 8:30 a.m. The event’s goal is to raise 150,000 meals. With every dollar, three meals can be provided to kids in need.
To find out more information on the shoe or event, click here SoGiv.org
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