Tag: SoGiv

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Calling the Bluff Music

Locally Designed Shoe Helps Fight Hunger In the Mid-South

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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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Calling the Bluff Music

Golf Tournament Benefits Kid With Rare Disease

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At the age of 6 years old, Dalton Al-Chokhachi was diagnosed with duchenne muscular dystrophy, a life-threatening genetic disorder that gradually weakens muscles. On average, people with the disorder, reach their twenties before succumbing to it.

Memphis-based nonprofit organization, SoGiv, has decided to bring more awareness to the disorder that Dalton’s battling and help generate financial support to further medical efforts combating it. One way SoGiv plans to fight duchenne muscular dystrophy is through its upcoming fundraiser, “Golf’n for Dalton.”

The 54-hole golf marathon will take place Monday, May 5th at Memphis National Golf Club in Collierville (10135 National Club Drive). The tournament will begin at 7 a.m. Each registered participant will receive a pair of SoGiv shoes inspired by “Dalton Defeating Duchenne,” a movement dedicated to bringing more support to Dalton’s battle. For every pair of shoes sold, one is given to a child in need in an effort to reduce childhood poverty.

The participating cost is $125 per golfer or $50 for shoes. Proceeds raised from the tournament will be contributed to medical care for Dalton, who is now 9 years old.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is primarily contracted by infant boys; it impacts one out of every 3,500 boys born in the United States. There are about 20,000 new cases each year. Many of those diagnosed with the disorder become wheelchair-dependent between the ages of 9 and 11 years old.

Dalton’s family started a petition in late February that urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to use its “accelerated approval” pathway for approval and access to safe, effective therapies for duchenne muscular dystrophy. They were able to acquire more than 100,000 signatures from the petition.

For more information on “Golf’n for Dalton,” click here.

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News News Blog

Local Nonprofit Competes To Get Shoe On Walmart’s Shelves

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Local nonprofit, SoGiv, has submitted its Global Awareness shoe into Walmart’s 2013 “Get on the Shelf” contest. The contest allows entrepreneurs around the country to submit their products for a chance to be sold on Walmart’s website and potentially have them sold in select stores.

SoGiv’s “Global Awareness” shoe is a black athletic sneaker with streaks of red and a gray SoGiv logo, which has the seven continents embedded in it.

“Should we win, not only would it be a good look for Memphis, but it would allow people all over the world to buy that shoe at Walmart.com,” said Edward Bogard, founder of SoGiv and designer of the shoe. “A lot of people don’t know that it’s not camouflage [but] all seven continents on the shoe. It helps kids learn their seven continents a little bit faster. It’s more than a fashion statement.”

People can vote for SoGiv’s Global Awareness shoe once a day up until Sept. 2nd here. A portion of the proceeds from every shoe purchased will go to one of 16 different charities and causes that SoGiv supports. These include HIV/AIDS, obesity, cancer, mental illness, and homelessness.

Bogard, a philanthropic designer, founded SoGiv in 2009 with the mission to raise global awareness and proceeds for worthy causes in the Mid-South and around the world.

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Book Drive Gives Back to Elementary Students, Homeless

All of Cherokee Elementary’s 455 students will be taking home at least one book to read over the summer.

That’s thanks to a book drive spearheaded by SoGiv, a nonprofit that sells footwear and apparel and donates a portion of the proceeds to different worthy causes each month.

“SoGiv a Book: Book Drive and Concert” will take place during the South Main Art Trolley Tour this Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. at K’PreSha Boutique (323 South Main).

“We’re looking out for the kids,” said Edward Bogard, founder of SoGiv. “We noticed that they get into a lot of trouble over the summer [because of idle time], and that was basically the motivation behind the drive. If we could put a book in every child’s hand for the summer, that would be a successful goal for us to achieve.”

People are encouraged to drop off new and used children’s book donations at K’Presha Boutique, Grawmeyer’s Restaurant, Sachë, Klein Fitness, and Cherokee Elementary.

Nikita Reed, principal of Cherokee Elementary, said literacy is one of the school’s deficiencies, and she hopes the book drive will help tackle that problem.

“We’re working to embrace literacy and let it be our focus,” Reed said. “The book drive will give our boys and girls something to read in the summertime and help improve their reading skills.”

The book drive will not only benefit the students at Cherokee, but also clients of the Union Missions homeless shelter.

“A lot of people are trying to get back on their feet,” said Dior Bailey, director of marketing and operations for SoGiv. “They’re homeless, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want something to read. They can still educate themselves while they’re trying to get back on their feet.”

A free concert will follow the book drive featuring a diverse lineup of local artist in genres ranging from alternative rock to neo-soul to hip-hop. Original artwork inspired by the book drive will be on display during the event as well.

“We want people to understand the significance behind giving back to the youth because they’re the future,” Bogard said. “Cherokee is only one school, but we’ve got to start somewhere. Hopefully by next year, we’ll have even more schools under our belt that we can do more things for.”