Wayne Elsey
Founder,
Soles4Souls
Soles4Souls® has a simple mission: To impact as many lives as possible with the gift of shoes.
Soles4Souls is a Nashville-based nonprofit that distributes shoes to people in need throughout the world. Soles4Souls has given away over 5.5 million pairs of shoes since 2005—that’s one pair every seven seconds!
The idea for Soles4Souls was formed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, when Wayne Elsey, a footwear executive at the time, collaborated with his friends and colleagues in the industry to send over 1 million pairs of shoes to victims of the disaster. He admits that he did not expect such an immediate and successful turnout, and the response left him wondering, “Why not start a non-profit and do this all the time?” One year later, Soles4Souls was formally created. "I'm happy to be able to help people with such a simple mission," Elsey said. "The growth of this organization has been rapid and I am excited to get involved on a daily basis so that I can devote more time to a cause that makes a difference in people's lives.”
Soles4Souls is a 501(c)(3) recognized by the IRS, and donating parties are eligible for tax advantages.
For more information please visit www.giveshoes.org.